We’ve had decentish weather this week – a cold snap at the end of the week but nice and sunny (when it’s sunny) and overcast, wet and grey when it’s not.
I wrote last time about our impending visit to Campden House just outside Chipping Campden. It was a lovely day out. We met our good friends the Waltons and we were hoping to see swarms of snowdrops cascading down the gentle slopes. The weather was simply gorgeous – clear blue skies and an exceedingly generous helping of sunshine – as we meandered through the woods and across the fields spotting small clumps of snowdrops, not quite the swaths we were hoping for and probably not quite yet at their peak. Still, we had a grand time stomping about, admiring the house and gardens and the views. Good to see that they also provide ample space for the moles to thrive.
And the walk did us good!
Lunch afterwards at Bellini’s in Moreton-on-Marsh was splendid. A tiny Italian restaurant squeezed in on the High Street – a great find. Cozy and warm with delicious calamari and an excellent Carbonara – 5 stars!
Ben might remember Campden House. When he was learning to play the trombone, one of his tutors at the music centre suggested he have a go at playing with a jazz band, I believe. This group rehearsed in one of the barns or halls at Campden House and Penny drove him over one dark and stormy night.
I have to admire her navigational skills – this place is not the easiest to find at the best of times. It’s up a fairly small lane with a driveway which goes on forever. There’s nothing to tell you that you’re in the right place or heading in the right direction as you drive on and on until the house finally appears in the distance. In the dark it must have been very challenging.
And, remember, she didn’t have Satnav to help her out. Which is a good thing, as it happens. Click the button on the web site which claims to give you directions to Campden House (as I did) and it drops you at a crossroads about five miles away on the other side of town. Brilliant.
For the one or two of you who are vaguely interested, I finished my latest virtual bike ride, across the Balkans from Dubrovnik to Istanbul. About 2100 kms (1300 miles) so it’s a good time to take a rest!
We transversed some of this area in the 1980s (I think it might have been 1983 or 84) when we drove across Europe, camping along the way, to join Penny’s folks and family in Cyprus. We visited Troy, Gallipoli, Şile, & Pamukkale, as well as the marvellously-named Plovdiv in Bulgaria, amongst others. It was a fascinating journey and a lot of fun. How the hell did we get there and back in one piece? And no Satnav again! I remember visiting the Blue Mosque in Istanbul which is where I finished this virtual excursion. I remember that Penny had to purchase a scarf or shawl or something to cover her bare arms and legs. Did we boys have to do the same? I can’t remember.
I’ve not yet decided where my next virtual trip will take me – I’m always open to suggestions.
We’re looking forward to the Superbowl tonight. Penny always takes the team with an animal name to win over any others (Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!) so she has all her savings on an Eagles win. I just hope it’s a good game, competitive to the end. Nick is coming over in the morning and we will watch it together “as live” (but thankfully with all the advertising removed). Great! We’ll both, no doubt, have to take great care to avoid stumbling across the result before we get to watch the whole game. I think the easiest way for me will be to simply not switch anything on, anywhere. And/or spend the morning with my eyes closed and ears plugged.
As I was glancing through the calendar to see who had birthdays this coming week, I realised that I had failed to highlight Karin and Amelie’s birthdays, both of which were last week. (That certainly won’t be the first or last time I forget birthdays). Today is Emily’s birthday (as well as Ellen Walton’s) so Happy Birthday to you all. This week, Daisy will celebrate her third birthday and our dear, dear friend Miles’ birthday is on Saturday. Happy, happy, happy birthday one and all.
And finally . . . We’re off! Again! Week after next so you’ll get a break from the Picayune for a few weeks. You’re welcome.
We’re off on a whistlestop tour of SE Asia – Bangkok, Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat temples, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City and then up the coast of Vietnam for a final week or so. House/dog sitters are booked, our friendly chauffeur has agreed to get us to the airport on time. Getting increasingly excited as the day draws closer.
Meanwhile, keep breathing, keep happy, keep smiling, keep exercising, be good, be careful, and keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees – we need all the pollinators we can get.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg