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My girlfriend and I were on vacation in New Zealand, enjoying a rest and recreation stress release from household chores, husbands and kids. Nearing the end of our holiday we were in Dunedin and we decided to spend a night in a castle a real New Zealand castle!

The steep road to the castle was narrow and winding, with a sheer drop down from the side of the road. Evening was approaching as we eagerly made our way up the mountain. It was a slow trip and the road seemed to go on for ever, when we saw it Larnach Castle, shrouded in mist, just as a castle should be.

We happily skipped up the front steps, past the stone lions and griffins standing guard like silent sentinels, and rang the bell, salivating at the thought of the welcoming brandy and delicious meal awaiting us.

A semi-smiling woman greeted us with the news that we had arrived too late (6.30pm) to eat in the dining room, but as there was as function booked for 8.30pm for a group of businessmen and their wives, we could, for a small fee, have a meal in our room from their menu.

We were so hungry, we were delighted! That left us with only two hours to wait. It was now very cold and misty, so we wrapped ourselves in beanies, parkas, gloves and scarves to do a circuit of the grounds. We must have looked like two starving orphans as we peered into the dining room window and saw the staff preparing for the function. Suddenly we heard bagpipes playing, and rounding the corner, we saw through the swirling mist, a kilted piper piping the businessmen and their wives into the function room for dinner.

We hurried back to our room a lovely little dormer bedroom above the stables, complete with flowery curtains and bedspreads. Our tummies were rumbling, and visions of delicious food played in our minds.

At 8.30pm on the dot, there was a knock on the door, and there stood the waiter a Manuel' lookalike, complete with black bow tie. Bowing and smiling, he served our first course of tomato soup. He had walked through the driving rain to our room, and the soup was cold. We were convulsed with laughter at this comical state of affairs. We imagined a scene from Fawlty Towers' with Basil chasing Manuel through the pouring rain shouting insults at him, and we laughed even more. Manuel, now totally drenched from the rain, bravely served our next two courses, Steak Diane and Rum Cream Trifle, which proved to be totally delicious, but dripping with raindrops.

After a coffee, we were finding it hard to stay awake, so we rolled into our beds and slept soundly all night.

The next morning we managed to do justice to the decadently scrumptious breakfast served in the morning room and then we staggered out for a tour of the historic castle and grounds, in daylight this time.

All good things must come to an end, and as we drove away we were still laughing at our hilarious and entertaining adventures at the castle.

Learn more about this author, Patricia Young.
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