And, we’re back! Again. We had a lovely week in Northumberland – the weather was kind and we completed a number of tasks on our “to-do” list, thanks to Penny’s excellent supervision and direction. Progress – just a few things to finish and we’ll be ready to go!
Daisy’s beginning to feel quite at home.
The beaches were packed again, as always.
We journeyed home a few days earlier than we had originally anticipated – one of our lovely neighbours died recently and her funeral was on Thursday. I think she and her husband moved to the village around the same time we did. We first met them at what I think was probably one of the first Harvest Suppers we attended as newcomers to the village. They were there with their grandson who I guess was about 14 years old – he’s now a strapping young man who trained as a tree surgeon. Over these last few years she struggled with lung and breathing issues but that never dimmed her friendliness and affection for a good chat at coffee mornings, dinners, film nights, whatever. She will be missed by all who knew her.
A couple of weeks ago I shared a pair of photos of our house a few decades apart. You will remember that a couple of our neighbours prepare a calendar each year with local photos to raise money for Katherine House Hospice near Banbury. This year they decided to have a series of “Then and Now” photos of a number of homes in the village, including ours. So, I marched outside, took a photo and sent it off. Job done!
When I showed it to Penny, however, she rightly pointed out that it was as unflattering a photo of the front of our house as one could possibly imagine. Most of the windows had their blinds down, the grass in front had sizzled into the feeblest, weedy scrubland, and the wisteria was about to engulf the house. She said all this in the nicest possible way, of course.
So we took this one the other day, ensuring that the car was out of the way and the blinds were up. Penny even persuaded Daisy to pose patiently while we worked out the best position from which to take the photo.
Most of you know, I think, that our house used to be the Dun Cow public house in Moreton Pinkney – it was built as a brewery and a pub in 1789, complete with a magnificent cellar. It was run successfully for many years and was taken over by Phipps Brewery in the late 19th or early 20th centuries – some of the more long-term members of the community remember it as a pub. I think it closed in the 1950s?
And here’s a bonus photo for you – the proud publican inviting you in for a drink. Cheers!
As we’ve been away so much over the past few weeks our resident squirrels have become bolder. Whereas they used to remain mainly in the trees at the top of the garden, they’re now coming down the garden and exploring for possible edibles nearer the house, although I don’t know what they’re finding?
When Daisy sees them from indoors in the morning she quivers with excitement and anticipation. Meanwhile, the squirrel camps sedately on the fence post almost as if to taunt her, nonchalantly displaying its disdain.
Once the door is open Daisy springs like a rocket toward the squirrel. Naturally, the squirrel is long gone. It trots along the fence and on to the garage roof.
Daisy, of course, has no idea where it’s gone but is convinced that it must be around here somewhere!
We’re back up to Northumberland later this week – the car will soon know the way! We did have a “fun” journey home this last time – a vehicle fire on the M1 meant serious delays. Thankfully, Mr Google helped us avoid the mayhem by diverting us through rural countryside, small market towns and villages in a sizeable loop around the affected hotspot, all of which Penny navigated splendidly. Still, a long journey home.
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. And, hold your loved ones close.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg