Failed

Approaching Solstice Services, a service area, retail park and industrial estate which has grown enormously over the past ten years or so, I thought it might be a good opportunity for a bit of exotic trolley hunting, having not scored away for some time now, perhaps as long as a year or more.

Sadly, I failed. I did find these trolleys inside the Holiday Inn, but that is a long way from scoring. We consoled ourselves with refreshments from the bar there, fizzy water in my case taken with a hard, Italian flavoured biscuit.

Further consolation, in that BH caught a bit of wedding coverage on the fine television provided in the bar area. And in the words of an enthusiastic lady commentator, she was lucky to be able to catch a few intimate moments.

But all in all, my line that hotels are good places in which to take a break was amply confirmed. You pay a bit more, but you get service and comfort. And, in this case, convenient parking.

PS: on the way to Solstice Services, we passed Stonehenge, getting a fine view of the monument from the A303 eastbound. Sadly, not for too much longer if, as seems all too likely, some fat-cat civil engineering contractor is bunged a few billion to put this bit of road away in a tunnel.

Reference 1: http://pumpkinstrokemarrow.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=thonemann. The only mention of Solstice Services that I can turn up, from 2011, which must be years after we first noticed the place. From which time, I can remember walking in a rough field full of poppies and such, one fine summer's afternoon. A field which is now submerged under the various sheds and buildings of the 'Home Bargains' operation.

Reference 2: http://www.solsticepark.com/. A site which does not appear to be much maintained; perhaps they have now sold all the land and space that is to be sold.

Reference 3: https://www.homebargains.co.uk/.