Rowlands Castle, Cheltenham and Highclere 21st - 29th July

 We headed off from Yorkshire at 6.30am bombing down the A614/A43 to get to Cheriton in Hampshire to meet friend's for Sunday lunch. The Hinton Ampner is a lovely pub and was great to see David, Anna and the children again. David had retired as a GP only a couple of days before. Unfortunately the NHS in the UK makes a GPs job impossible and he could not fight the system anymore. Another excellent family doctor lost to their patients.

After lunch we returned to their home a Rowlands Castle which is a small village near the south coast; Chichester, Southampton etc. The village has a Green, chemist and Londis store also an excellent cafe The Bumblebee. Their house borders the South Downs National Park so plenty of walks from the house. A walk the next day with the children using our app which 12yr old Nicholas was enthralled with.

Nicholas takes the lead, Anna and 8yr Charlotte in the South Downs. 

Fishbourne Palace is an outstanding display of Roman mosaics which are kept under cover that were found in the 1960s and excavated. This is in a suburban area of the south coast. There are many of these sorts of finds throughout the UK as the Romans built roads, forts, towns in their advance across Europe.

We spent the rest of our time at Rowlands Castle mucking about in their large garden, doing quizzes with the children. A hoot.

On the way to visit them we called into Oxford for a leg stretch. Fabulous place teaming with summer international students. Hit Waterstones and topped up on books; two books for one book so can't go wrong.

Laird Hatters since 1362. 

After a couple of days with David and Anna we headed to Cheltenham for another couple of days stay with friends Stuart and Ros. They had been Wwoofers for us a couple of times at Jefferswood. We have kept in touch with them over the years even though they no longer work on organic farms. They are very keen hikers, having completed many of the several days walks in the UK and France. The Cotswolds is synonymous with stunning villages, buildings and a National Park status. 

This is in the village of Naunton which we passed though on a days walk plotted by Stuart. Was just lovely countryside. Note the dovecot on the top of the roof.

Ros and I. Just the best hollyhocks growing everywhere. That's the flowers!

Stuart at pace leading the way.

We had a posh picnic in Ros and Stuart's garden as the weather has finally turned to summer so a delight. Cheltenham is also a stunning city with the university and being the centre of the Cotswolds. We had a stooge about as Ros and Stuart live within walking distance.

The UK does hanging baskets everywhere, we love them.

Some great art pieces in the Plaza area.

Our next house/ pet sitting started on Friday 26th near Highclere called Woolton Hill by Highclere castle.

Highclere Castle was used in the Downtown Abbey series. We have visited it on a previous trip, high tea no less, so not going again. It is fully booked throughout the summer and understood there is another film being shot there.

Our house-sit is part of a farm estate where what would have been farm workers cottages, have been rented out. We are caring for a dog, Bruno, a cat called Ari and a first for us  - a hamster. Good set up with outdoor area backing onto a wooded area and many walks from the front door. The owner is away for a week being her first holiday for 7 years after being housebound after a long illness. The animals had never had anyone else caring for them. It is quite a highend area with many large homes and gardens in the surrounding areas and villages.

First night we had a wander about Woolton Hill village. Another dog walker told us about this pub and we just had to call in. As you can see Bruno is a very portly, beagle composite cross, nearly ten years old. He is up for anything but life is ruled by food.

These Kiwis have me on a get fit and trim program!

This is the hamster, who is nocturnal ( who knew) and every second night likes to spin around the lounge in his plastic ball. Gets stuck in the corners sometimes. We just look at each other and laugh, another experience never forgotten. The hamster belongs to Sarah's daughter, Matilda who has been her mothers carer.

Out for a walk Saturday we went into the Thorngrove school fair. A dog competition was being run with a "Golden oldies" section. Jeff thought Buno was a starter and astoundingly this overweight dog charmed everyone. (The dog not Jeff)

Bruno won first prize, a rosette and treats. Was fun and folks intrigued that kiwi housesitters were amongst them. Even though the animals have new people they are very content and easy. 

Jeff's young farmer friends, Great Shefford YF, from 1979, got together and we had a long lunch at Burghclere, on one of the members family farm.  Celebrated Jeff's 70th birthday a day early in great style, lots of fun and grateful to have an excuse to get together. Jeff has celebrated his birthdays; 25th, 65th now 70th with them.

Note all the snowy heads, Young farmers of 45yrs ago now. 

Couple on the right were the hosts.

Birthday boy with his favourite chocolate cake made by Carol who had a recipe that Jeff had given Carol 2 years ago.

Is a lovely property being passed on to a YF member by her father. They farm suckling cows having started out as dairy farmers. At 40pc a litre you go broke pretty soon especially with all the ridiculous environmental dictates here. We brought the dog with us and he behaved impeccably, in the car under a shady tree, as long as he could see Jeff he was happy. Man love!

On Jeff's birthday, Monday, we talked with our great friends, the Johnsons of Havelock, the wonders of WhatsApp. Many messages, cards and a phone call from David Patient, now on holiday in Cornwall. Was a stunning day so plotted a circular 9 mile hike from the Jack Russell Inn. Was going to be a 27C day so were mindful of the dog but he was up for it. Took lots of water and plenty of stops in the shade. 

Walk a mix of open space and walking through deciduous woods as above.

One of our many stops for Bruno. Not keen on uphills but jollied him along.

This is the view of the Northern Wessex Downs. One of the YF told us you can see 16 county's from here. Was a 360deg view.

 

Broad beans field for stock feed. To our dismay we also saw many " rewilding" fields whereby farmers get paid to leave land to nature by the government. The UK does not grow enough food to feed itself hence buying Moroccan tomatoes, Egyptian green beans, Spainish broccoli sprouts at Tesco supermarkets but they let land go rank full of ragwort and every weed known to man. The UK's "emissions" are as negligible as NZ and will not save the planet by this misguided effort. Farmers also get paid for sowing wild flowers and planting hedgerows. Look great but does not feed the populous. We met a chap in Ashmansworth village as we were sitting under an old Beech tree. The council will not remove the tree from his boundary, even though it could fall onto his thatched home due to the trees disease, because there is a pigeon nesting. Possible damaged home over an endemic species, the world is mad.

They are into hedge manicures here, a snowman; very clever.

Really nice grounds and Sophie our friendly waitress.

Bruno happy to get back to the Jack Russell Inn, bowl of water, a meatie bite and good to go.