Our travels took us to Danbury today, for a wander around the Common (free parking in the National Trust car park – we don’t like to pay for parking!!) and then on to Hudson’s Café – part of the Mission Church on the Maldon Road.  It was all going so well; Sister X was early – again!  I have told her I find this slightly unnerving after 7 years of her always being slightly tardy.  Sister Y actually managed to find the car park (none of us are particularly blessed with fantastic senses of direction – if you knew me and I told you that I was the most reliable of the three when it comes to way-finding … well, that would indicate just how bad the other two are!) ‘without hysterics’ – her own words – she is not actually of a hysterical persuasion on a daily basis but referring to a recent trip to Hylands Park which began with her questioning her competence as a road user, mother and human being – ok, I’m exaggerating somewhat but you get the gist!

So, anyway, we had a good old stroll around the common – even quite exerting ourselves at some points wrestling the buggy over tree roots and pushing uphill.  My eldest offspring was accompanying us on this occasion, being off school following a minor op, so we were able to rely upon her, a KS1 pupil, to ensure we did not get lost (we weren’t overly confident that, had she not been with us, we wouldn’t still be wandering aimlessly through woodland and heathland several hours later in Blair Witch style panic).  After half an hour or so we decided that it was high time for cake and so returned to the car park.  We discussed the location of the church, with me assuring the others that it was just ‘right and right again’.  Sister X confidently declared that she had it down and that it was in her Sat Nav anyway so no need to worry.  At this point Sister Y foolishly decided that she would follow her and so they tootled off with me bringing up the rear.  Off they went up the road, straight past the right turn that I had suggested.  Never fear, I thought (as I checked with my seven year old that we had indeed come the right way), she has her Sat Nav on so it must just be taking them a different route.  We duly arrived at the church a few minutes later having indeed turned right and right again but there was no sign of X or Y.  Five minutes later, they pulled into the car park, grinning sheepishly and giggling at Sister X’s misguided notion that she would actually be able to trail blaze successfully (even with the use of a Sat Nav).  I still can’t quite fathom where they went but the main thing was that they had made it and it was time for cake!!

The Mission Church is a very modern building and actually looks nothing like a church – lots of glass, wood flooring and carpet.  Hudson’s is separated from the congregation by glass panels and is quite spacious with a mix of dining chairs, tub chairs and sofas.  Plenty of space for the buggy without it being in the way and they even have a little area with some baby toys, books etc which is a lovely idea.  The hot chocolate was tasty – £2.40 for a normal sized mug without any extras so not as cheap as you might expect from a café linked to a church, especially as I believe it is run by volunteers – and the cakes were good.  Sister X had a ginger cake which she said was nicer than she thought it would be (ha ha!) and Sister Y had Lemon and Blueberry cake.  I shared some sort of Malteser-cake/flapjacky thing with my eldest which was very yummy and only £1.50 so quite reasonable.

The general consensus was that we would definitely return – it was really clean and bright and they even had boxes of tissues in the toilets (I’m easily pleased!).  Sadly though, the Sisterhood were obviously not radiating enough divine energy during our visit as we weren’t offered any kind of holy-fellowship/kindred spirit discount – outrageous!!

Until next time, cake lovers xx