The drive up here to Sansome House Cottage, Ilmington in the Cotswolds was easy, just one missed turnoff by me from the A40 but otherwise arrived safe and sound. The cottage is perfect. The boys have a great room upstairs with us and Trish has a small room beside the lounge and even a little garden to paint in. We had the fire going both nights here, but the days were lovely. The first night we wandered down our street, through a tiny back alleyway that meandered around behind the village, emerging in the 'town square' (really more of a 'triangle' - a mound of grass, a pub and a little store!). Just love how the pubs are heaven for the boys - lots of grass and even a little creek in our local The Howard Arms.
After a bit of grocery shopping in Shipston on Stour for the obligatory scotch eggs and pork pies, today we ventured through Moreton-on-the-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, past Upper and Lower Slaughter and through charming Ford to Winchcombe where Suderley Castle hosted
the sword fighting, jousting Plantaganet Knight Troop. An absolute highlight of the trip. We wandered around the castle grounds and there was even a huge wooden fort with flying fox for the kids. Fabulous day. We were so lucky that our visit coincided with the event. Also in
the grounds of the castle was an interesting sculpture exhibition entitled "Reconstruction #3, The Artists Playground' organised in conjunction with Phillips de Pury & Co and Chanel, with upside down treetop turrets by Henry Krokatsis, a mirror maze by Jeppe Hein, some fantastic wax antlers in the chapel (!) and a giant neon pitchfork by Michael Craig-Martin that Sammy was fascinated with. Juxtaposed with the historic castle, the contemporary works were intriguing.
The half hour journey took in some beautiful (I have run out of adjectives) rolling hills and tight hedged roads and in the dusky light on our way home a small deer ran across in front of the car... phew! Not much other wildlife to speak of, we have been spoilt in California! We stopped off for dinner at the Plough Inn, Ford for fabulous Scallops & Chorizo, Venison & Mash, and Cottage Pie with Veggies for the kids where they played tag with friends as a hot air balloon finished it's journey in a nearby field. It has been so nice, reminiscing to myself about my family's time here 30 years ago (wow - am I that old?!); camping in the fields, the hedges, the trees, stiles and walking tracks - my memories seem to revolve around nature, and I think about the ages of the boys being almost where my brother and I were and how fond my memories are, and knowing that Jack and Sam will be creating similar memories.
After an early walk with Davey around the village, he and Trish visited Stratford Upon Avon whilst the kids and I packed a picnic breakfast, donned our wellingtons and parkas, and crossed the stile over the road in search of some apparently elusive badgers. After
getting myself seriously electrocuted, avoiding rogue cows and trudging through knee high mud we opted for the relative safety of the playground followed by a stroll through the town, via the stocks, ending up in the cemetery decoding the worn tombstones (is there a theme there?!). In the afternoon, we drove thru Chipping Campden (stopped for treats), Broad Campden (stunning - could live there), Blockley, Ebrington, Mikelton (check your iPhone for directions and you miss them) and on home. I cooked my roast chicken for dinner. We all slept soundly!
The kids have been great, considering we have been on the go everyday. They are really loving it and getting along well (most of the time!). Homework is difficult to say the least, but we are bound by contract (can you believe that?) so it must get done!! Tomorrow we head 1.5hrs east to Ludlow in Shropshire to meet up with Nanna Doreen and Great Uncle Pete...
