The long version of the story would start with plans for an early start ruined by a burst pipe in the boiler house, move on to involve a bizarre game where you have to work out how to get two king size and eight single mattresses in the back of a rented standard SWB Transit (thanks for the help Frances) and then detail all the drama of a wintry drive to Lydd in Kent - 600 miles from home.
The short version would start with us turning off the M74 at Gretna services in need of sustenance. Like the thirsty antelope at a waterhole we were wary, not of crocodiles or big cats of course, just dubious food. But just like the antelope's thirst can cause it to make unwise and fatal decisions, we were hungry and getting desperate. We cast cautious eyes around, refusing to be tempted by the bright lights and promises of Burger King and Costa Coffee and then we spotted what seemed a safe haven.
'Eat In' cleverly gave the impression it did what it was called, home comforts and good homely food. Even though I wanted a coffee I was a sucker for the dangling sign that simply said 'Have a nice cup of tea'. It cunningly suggested you were being invited into someone's home and whats more the simple menu was accompanied by the request that you would have to wait ten minutes while your food was cooked - how good was that. The final nail in our coffins was the staff - they were great!
In fact until our food arrived everything was great - what a shame the food was so truly awful, so grim, such rubbish. Shame for them and a shame for us.
So there we are, based upon our experience, when eating out don't 'Eat In'.
