Sitting in my office in Cambridge last Thursday,
I suddenly had a feeling of "Here we go again" as I realised that the kids start back at school after this coming long weekend, and then we'll be properly back into it for another year.
Obviously action had to be taken, so I got up from my desk and walked the short distance along Duke Street to the new Clements Hotel. I enquired about rooms and rates for Saturday night and the very pleasant receptionist informed me that the hotel was fully booked.
No room at the inn.
As I began to lament my short-lived fantasy, she said "But we have plenty of rooms available tomorrow".
So, on the spot, I booked their flagship room, the Clements Suite, for Friday night along with a three course dinner and breakfast for two, and walked back onto the street wondering what had come over me.
Actually I knew what it was: I'm just coming to the end of a two year course of drugs which, amongst other undesirable side effects, has made me rather more difficult to live with than I usually am. I felt it might be a good idea to do something to show my wife that "I'm still here".
So having booked the room I went straight to Ivy, my florist of choice on Victoria Street, and arranged a large bunch of flowers to be delivered to the room tomorrow afternoon.
Then I had to think of a way to get her there; she was working on Friday and will often work late. That wouldn't do, so I called her at work and said I needed to buy a couple of shirts - the drugs have made me bigger than I have ever been - and obviously was going to need her input. I suggested that I pick her up from work at three thirty, and was surprised at how easily she agreed.
Plan coming together.
Then to Paper Plus where I bought a nice blank greeting card.
In it I wrote: "Pack for overnight - and bring something to wear for dinner".
I then drove home and enlisted the help of our son. His job, on Friday, would be to pick his mother up from work at 3:30, give her the card, drive her home, and make sure to get her out of the house and into town as close to 4:15 as possible - I did actually need to buy shirts so we'd need time for that.
Friday dawned and the wife went off to work none the wiser.
I found, knowing what I had planned, that I slipped very easily into holiday (or at least 'very short break') mode, so having got my one morning meeting out of the way, I enjoyed a leisurely long black at the Deli On The Corner, and did not very much else as I waited for check in time.
At precisely two o'clock I presented myself at reception at the Clements Hotel. I was given a brief tour of the hotel and was shown to our room where I spent a most enjoyable and relaxing couple of hours doing absolutely nothing. Just before 4:15, I went downstairs and sat at a small table on the street side, doing my best to look debonair and unconcerned.
My wife was duly delivered and emerged from the car looking effortlessly elegant and demanding to know exactly what was going on. I took her hand and led her through reception, up the impressively sweeping staircase, and into the Clements Suite.
The effect was exactly as I had hoped.
We, like everyone else in Cambridge, are well aware that the people who bought the run down old Masonic Hotel some years ago, had since been involved in an eye-wateringly expensive and long renovation.
What a job they have done.
The Clements Hotel is a credit to its owners, staff, all who have worked on it, and to Cambridge. I can say, without fear of contradiction, that it sits rightfully in the top echelon of any accommodation offerings in New Zealand.
The Clements Suite comprises one large, beautifully appointed room, a spectacular bathroom, and exclusive access, via tall double doors, to the huge balcony which occupies centre stage, directly above the main entrance and features a stylish outdoor table setting as well as a separate seating arrangement.
So often one can't get fresh air into a hotel room, but having those doors open on a summer's evening and entertaining friends on the balcony was a real pleasure. Perhaps one of the bright yellow umbrellas which they have downstairs in the garden would have been a good idea on the balcony, as the heat of the evening sun eventually drove us indoors, to sit in the spacious, opulent, and cool main room.
Having farewelled our drinks guests, we got ready for dinner. The bathroom is simply a delight to be in; the quality of fittings, choice of materials, decor, and workmanship don't shout at you - they are just quietly excellent.
And so to the Gallery restaurant. Situated along the back of the main building, this is reminiscent of the orangeries popular in European stately homes. Exposed brick and some concrete, a high, beamed ceiling sloping gently down to an entire wall of bi-fold doors opening to the expansive and beautifully laid out terrace, and walled garden beyond. A generous open space with abundant green foliage adding depth and ambience.
We chose a bottle of Mahi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Salmon Pastrami, Market Fish, Black Forest Chocolate Brûlée, and a Trio of Cheese.
Many a time one will go out for dinner hoping to be wowed by the food - but you're just not - and it's disappointing.
This was not the case tonight; every aspect of our meal was superb, and the service (rumoured to have stumbled in the very early days) was impeccable.
Having sent the cheese board to our room 'for later', we rounded off the evening by heading down to the 1866 Speakeasy Bar set in the basement. The design and execution of this concept is a triumph, it evokes the atmosphere of the speakeasies of Chicago exactly as intended. Personally, we would have preferred more Dixie Jazz than Sinatra, and perhaps small speakers set into the booths would have enhanced the atmosphere rather than the slightly echoey sound from the other end of the room - but I am being picky here. The barman was up against it when we got there, and could have used some help but he managed to turn out a range of very nice looking cocktails in quick time. When our Cosmopolitans arrived (and we know our Cosmopolitans) they were nothing short of splendid. Of course, the first was quickly followed by a second.
An unexpected bonus was a display of flaring by the barman, obviously happy to have caught up, he juggled, flipped, span, and caught bottles and glasses. I have to say I felt distinctly tense as he bounced cocktail shakers from his elbows into the air within inches of glass shelves full of expensive and defenceless bottles. He didn't miss a beat though, and the response from the assembled company was rapturous.
When we finally decided to head back to the room we couldn't find our way out, so we picked a door and went for it - up a staircase, and somewhat surprisingly found ourselves out on Duke Street.
Interesting to note how quiet town is, as you sit on the balcony at midnight with a cheese board and cocktails, rounding off a most enjoyable evening.
I tend to move a bit in the night and my wife is fond of comparing a night sleeping in a typically soft hotel bed with me as akin to being 'on the high seas', but the bed in our room was very big, suitably firm, and supremely comfortable - for both of us.
In the morning, breakfast in the Gallery kept the bar high; good food beautifully prepared and presented - and, crucially, very good coffee.
We checked out, and were collected by our driver at nine o'clock, and it was something of a jolt to realise, upon driving round the block, that we were back in Cambridge.
It had only been 18 hours, but it was the perfect mini-break.
Hats off to the entire team at the Clements Hotel, thank you for a refreshing and enjoyable night spent away in our own town.
We already planning to do it again - how about mid-winter?