Hampshire 27th July - 31st July

We headed to Burghclere where friends, Alan and Sandra, from Jeff's Young Farmers days, live. They were dairying for many years but now have Simmental "suckler cows". We do not have similar terminology in NZ. We just have beef cows who raise a calf. 

They had put on the birthday party last year for Jeff's 70th. This time around we had a lovely afternoon tea, scones, jam, cream and sponge - classic English. Was good fun with Malcolm and Celia ex neighbours from last years housesit. Malcolm is famous for burning old silage on a summers day upsetting neighbours. Unfortunately Malcolm recently fell into the concrete bound lily pond at his place and did himself some serious leg damage, had to be lifted out with a front end loader. 

Alan still works from 5am to days end most days. Had taken the afternoon off for us as he and his son have been carting straw for days. After the hectares of cereal are harvested the straw is baled then these massive wagons lumber down the narrow roads to where the straw is stored for bedding in the winter. Cows are winter housed. A real skill for drivers turning with loads and not tipping the whole unit. Sandra is the village stalwart and also sells sunflowers with her daughter. They open the sunflower fields to the public and can be overwhelmed from far and wide. 

Next day we travelled down to Hassock - above Brighton- to met the folks we will be housesitting for from Sunday 3rd August. Quite a haul as various crashes on the M27 and M25 caused delays and we had to dodge about. Will be a different housesit as house is chaotic and the dachshund yappy. Owner uses a water pistol to calm it down? Hassock is very close to the South Downs National Park. 162,000 hectares of recreational paradise. One could walk from Winchester to Eastbourne if you had a mind to. Plenty of National Trust places nearby also. Dachshund will be encouraged to  fall into line and it loves car rides. Can also get the train to Brighton to have a look about sans the ghastly parts.

Jeff's 71st birthday we went to the New Forest Hampshire County show.

This chess set made from forged iron was in the craft tent

Vege and flowers display. Runner beans and potatoes popular

Clydesdale and Shire horses were magnificent

These are doorstops. There are some in the house we are in at Over Wallop. Jeff keen the Nelson Mens Shed have a go as a fund raiser using some of their wood stored.

This is how post and rail fences start off stripping off bark then shaping just using an axe.

These chaps were branding name plates for homes

Winner of best calf and handler.

The show goes for three days and was very large. Trade displays endless and the craft fabulous. Not one dolly toilet roll holder to be seen. Art, jewellery, pottery, sewing you name it.  The dogs trailed around with us for four hours amongst the huge crowd.

Very well set out show with ample space, sitting areas, toilets and signage. Even an old farm area displaying machinery, skills from bygone area. 

3pm time for lunch so Birthday Boy was in heaven when we went to the show's nearby pub at Lynhurst.

Toad in the hole

Beaming Birthday Boy

Went down to Braydon next day having lunch with Alastair and Jo. They milk, along with family members, 650 Holstein cows. We saw the farm last year and did not agree with cows being housed 365 days of the year but that is how they operate profitably.  They enjoyed hosting us as a break from the daily routines and our NZ, travelling  stories they love.  Jo helps rears calves which is no mean feat as she has Parkinson and not that steady on her feet. Jeff and I forever gratefully for our robust good health.

Managed to book a tour of the Bombay Sapphire Gin Distllery. Quite the history going from a paper mill printing banknotes for the UK and India to a gin distillery in 2013. This company exports 45% to USA, with 15% sold within the UK and balance exported to the rest of the world. 60m 1litre bottles per year - a lot of gin. Still uses the same recipe from 1761 with flavouring from 10 ingredients or botanicals  - juniper, lemon, almond, cassis, angelica, liquorice, coriander etc. They use water from Wales, gin is 40% proof! Bacardi own the company so gin tankered to Glasgow, bottled then shipped from the port.

Vapour infusion stills. If you leave out juniper it is vodka not gin

As per the label Queen  Victoria

Masses of brick buildings and an offshoot of the Test River

Nearby Laverstock is the Longstock Park Water Gardens and farmshop. Farmshop cafe is a top spot according to friends and was pretty busy. Being the cheapskates we are had taken sandwiches, money better spent on entry fees, tours etc. On the way there was a terrific thunderstorm.

The farm shop is partnered with Waitrose and boasts a large local cheeses cabinet, berries etc.

Some very large trees in the background of the Longstock Park water gardens

Gardens maintained by two gardeners

Longstock Park Water Gardens

We had not taken the dogs with us today as not welcome in the distillery or water gardens. Happy to see us on return.

Twiglet the brown spaniel and Turbo, blind in one eye, the lunatic, but nice..

The Wallops, Hampshire 20th - 26th July

There are actually three Wallops - Nether, Over and Middle. Wallops rough translation is " valley of springing water". We are based at Over Wallop and very handy to all manner of walks, historical sites and National Trust properties.

This is the Test River running through the district. River weed is manually scythed and left there for the current to take it the 64km out at Southhampton. Trout can be seen everywhere.  Spent a morning in Stockbridge, a quintessential charming village with its independent shops - Jeff walking the dogs along the river and water meadows, posh term (we would call swampy area) while I had a necessary haircut. Here you pay a 50% deposit on booking to secure appt. £50 all up phew!! Do not do the conversion.....

Headed to Winchester known for the medieval 11th century Winchester Cathedral and the Great Hall with King Arthur's Round Table.

Winchester Cathedral houses one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta from 1215. 

This is the Winchester Guild Hall now used as a venue that can cope with 70,000 people. Originally a nunnery, destroyed by Henry V111 in 1538 then rebuilt in 1870's.

King Alfred

West gate portal

Some of the historic houses around the centre of the city

Next day we set off to Hinton Ampner, there is a National Trust country house but we were more interested in the Hinton Arms pub where we met friends for lunch. Always a reliable meal and the display of potted flowers is a standout. We had found a great 2 hour walk in the woods for after lunch, much to the joy of the two spaniels.

We do notice that there is very little birdlife, squirrels etc. The occassional deer maybe. There are plenty of woods, seeds, berries about.

Salisbury cathedral next, at least not covered in scaffolding when we visited a few years ago.

Has the tallest spire in the UK

A few of the faces on the figures have worn off over the centuries

This is the Old Sarum Hilltop Fort close to Salisbury. No JCB to dig deep trenches back then. An ideal fortified Iron Age settlement.

While on our historical bender we called into Mottisfont Abbey, now a National Trust site, with its walled garden and fabulous very old plane trees. Most National Trust sites are maintained by volunteers which is a big ask with 250,000+ hectares of land and over 500 ancient buidings including castles. Almost impossible really as always struggle for funding; our DOC but the UK version of.

Found another nice village/woodland walk at Ludgershall after which we went to "Dollies Tearoom" (I kid you not) for lunch. Got chatting to the butcher next door, as you do, where they were only taking cash as area wide internet was down. Seems to happen regularly in a lot of places. Also learned that many businesses do not take cash due to the "constant robberies" Insurance is too high for small to medium businesses so "card is king".

We spent the afternoon undertaking a tidy of the grounds we are looking after. Jeff attacked the extensive lawn area with a prehistoric mower and I tackled the weed infested "vege bed" which housed 3 courgette plants and some very sad pea plants. Looked pretty good after our efforts. Jeff is also the 'pool man' for the large swimming pool if which we are unlikely to use as 20C  air temp too low. We were spoilt in Nice.

Not sure the Forestry Commission actually manage the woods we walked at Ludgershall. Most very mature trees and/or falling over.

Remains of a castle at Ludgershall

A thatched roof with some whimsical additions by the thatcher

Big business in the UK

Yesterday we took on The Vynes; another National Trust property complete with 650 yr old oak called the Hundred Guinea Oak.  Enjoyed the wander around the grounds with the Test River running through it.

The Vynes homestead   - not occupied

Said 650yr old oak complete with a lean beside a summer house

The Bombay Sapphire Gin distilIery was nearby at Whitchurch. A massive range of  brick buildings built 1916. This was where all the UK banknotes were printed until 1963 then repurposed for the distillery - money and drink - there is something about that.  We had not booked a tour so unable to have a look through, not that we drink gin but the mechanics if it would have been interesting. We carried on to Houghton Lodge another historic garden full of old apple and pear cultivars you do not see now, one of which was espalliered 16.5m long, impressive. With the river running through the grounds, swans floating by it was idyllic. The dogs come out with us everyday and get at least two hours walking so very content.

We visited a couple who live near Oxford today who we cycled with last year on the Provence Tour, John and Madie. Both keen cyclists having been to Sri Lanka, India and throughout Europe. John had been a pediatrician (retired at 60yrs,  7 yrs ago) and regaled us with his recent delivery of a baby in the village when he was phoned in a panic by a neighbour as the ambulance was not going to get there on time. Made his day. Nice to spend sometime with them both again and we were encouraged to go on the waitlist with PeakTours for a cycle next year, Munich to Rome. 

Madie (who is called Gabby at times because she is a real chatterbox) and John.

England - 13th July to 19th July

 Left Duns in Scotland Sunday morning heading down the A7 then onto the M6. Had expected the roads to be quiet but rammed with traffic from Carlisle to Cheltenham. Took 7hrs but enjoyed the countryside.

They have been having very dry summer so far in England

Friends in Cheltenham had been WOOFERS for us at Jefferswood a few times when we were away scanning in the Borders. They had just sold their big family home and moved into an apartment nearby. Still walking distance in the lovely city and close to the Cotswolds surrounding Cheltenham. 

Next morning we headed out for a walk near a hamlet called Hawling. Lovely in the woods and open fields. We were particularly taken with the village of Guiting Power (great name!).

Barley not far off harvesting

Moi, Ros and Stuart at our packed lunch break

These girls had ridden into the village to get sausage rolls at the farmshop cafe! A hoot.

This was a medical marijuana crop we past. We checked...no smell or taste

Was an easy interesting walk and we then went to Ros and Stuarts allotment near their old home. Allotments are an idosyncracy of the United Kingdom - a parcel of council owned land is in plots where anyone who has managed to secure one pays a small lease to grow veges and fruit. Some have a small shed, couple of portable chairs maybe. They come into their own for folks with no garden area say tenaments, duplexs, apartments etc. In WW2 there were 1.4m plots called victory gardens... growing for Britian.

Had a wander around Cheltenham city, was sad to see one of the anchor department stores on its last legs but the Decathalon sports store was something else, size of a rugby field with ever possible toy from kayaks to runners. We kept our hands in our pockets. Great to see Stuart and Ros again who are very fit with all their walking, swimming and badminton.

Travelled the short distance to Bishop Upton near Ross on Wye to spend time with Guy and Fiona, who we had met cycling last year in Provence. They are very keen to come to NZ next year as Guy retires from the Army at 60yrs in October. They have a secluded 5 acre property with a converted barn. Fiona is an interior designer so the homestead was full of beautiful fabrics, art and well placed objects of interest. We slept in the converted piggery!! which was very well done ensuite bedroom. They had put together a great couple of days visiting nearby sights, walks and tours.

Did a lap of the Hereford Cathedral, another Gothic wonder, a chained library which housed the Mappa Mundi - a map of the world drawn on white calf skin from 13th century. The New World a vague thought at that time. Dropped into a farm shop and bought a fillet of Hereford steak, Guy in heaven when Jeff showed him how to BBQ it.

Fiona took us for a long walk around Coppett Hill and the Wye River. A few old lime kilns remain but otherwise typical English woids. Went into a converted 13th century church now set up to have wedding breakfasts and other events as a money maker for the upkeep, some good lateral thinking.

Hereford Cathedral

The choir was very good, the young soloist voice spine tingling

Fiona and moi Coppett Hill common

Our very smart lunch stop at the Hostelrie at Goodrich Ross on Wye

One of the older buildings in Ross on Wye

Next day Guy had booked a tour of the Morgan car factory and Westerns Cider plant. Morgan cars are hand made to order, about 800 per year, starting at 100,000 pounds. You can choose any of 50 colours, trim, leather, whatever you want. Aluminium is molded on wooden Ash frames, engines are BMW as is the running gear. Incredible to see so many staff labouring away at close quarters.

Aluminium frames

Ash moulds

We thought spokes would look better

Fiona and Guy in a dream car

Next stop was Westerns cider plant at Much Marcle village.  A family owned 4th generation, since 1878, they utilise cider apples within a 50 miles radius from 300+ growers. They crush 81,000 tonnes of apples to produce 65m litres of cider. Quite an operation with their own fleet of trucks, 200,000ltr stainless tanks and English oak tanks, bottling plant etc. 

They are known for a range of brands - Old Rosie, Rosie Pig, 1880 and Vintage at 8.2% alclohol. We learnt so much and the tastings were well received. 

A few of the 120+ stainless tanks

The happy tour group with safety vests....in front of an oak tank named after the King

All the oak tanks are named

Said our farewells to Guy and Fiona after our fabulous stay. May see them next year on another European cycle ride or in NZ.  Drove down to Marlborough, Wiltshire on the way to Stockbridge. Stopped for lunch at Pollys tearooms, we know well, but a 20min wait for a salad saw us about to leave. Plenty of serving staff lolling about but only one cook it seems. They just had to communicate this. Arrived in Stockbridge where we stayed at the Three Cups hotel, another 16th century classic with very low ceilings and heavy beams awaiting your head.  

I look a bit of a giant infront of this historic pub

The Test River runs in this area, famous for clarity and trout. A chalk stream hence water here is very hard

We headed off to meet the folks we were to start housesitting for the next day at Over Wallop. A family of six away to Greece for two weeks while we care for their two spaniels and home. Will be great fun and to stay in one place for a couple of weeks. Not familiar with this area but Marlborough, Winchester, Salisbury nearby. As are other friends an hours drive or so. 

Property we are caring for known as "The Corner House"

This is Twiglet, 11yrs old and very chilled

This is Turbo with his teddy, son of Twiglet and is 3 yrs old. Mad as a brush

Never knew there were sooo many dog treats

More dog treats...large salmon burger....good grief.

Dogs are happy walkers, riders in the car and to mooch about with you. We bought another retractable lead as the owners leave the dogs collarless but not how we operate. Even on a woods walks other dogs could appear, or the spaniels get a fright and take off.