Oxfordshire continues...June 22nd to 25th June

 All the next week here in the UK is forecast to be hot. They send out  "red alerts" "danger of death" schools close etc. Although ironically thousands of Brits go to Europe - Italy, Spain, France for summer holidays where 35C is not uncommon. These temperatures are not bearable in the UK as generally housing is setup for cold, damp weather, domestic airconditioning is a dream for many. Not to mention the council zealouts who do not allow planning permission for aircon  - "open a window but close them at night"...I ask you. 

So we have plotted out the weeks activities allowing for our walks, swimming for the black labrador we are caring for before the 3pm forecast 33C arrives. Monday saw us drive to Newbridge (25mins drive) which is on the Thames River. The river is small and clear in this part of England. It actually starts near Cheltenham about 50km away. If you think of the, at times, brown very wide river meandering through London it is such a contrast. We walked about 11km on what was called " New Bridge to The Blue Boar loop".  Lots of canal boats, locks and good places for the dog to swim, she was overjoyed. 

Wandering along the path we kept seeing bright blue dragon flies. 

The path passed bird hides, avenues of trees and a field of cows and calves. The deciduous lime trees ( Linden sp.) are in full flower and the scent is a delight We had a couple of these at Jefferswood. Finished up back at New Bridge at The Rose Revived - such great pub names.

Later afternoon Jeff was chatting on the phone to a friend and there was a terrific thump. I thought one of the many pigeons that live around the house had undertaken a kamikaze on the house but no. One of the cypress trees, weighted with ivy, had just fallen over from the neighbours landing on the fence and the roof of the house. So neighbour got onto the "Town and Country" arborist and put up a sign to say the Public Footpath between the two properties is out of action. Next morning a couple of lads spent 4 hours removing the tree, Jeff repaired the fence, replaced spouting. A couple of stone tiles need replaced but not paramount. We tidied up gardens and hay presto all good. Heaps more light coming into the kitchen now.

Weirdly the owner of the home we are looking after, sent a whatsapp message next morning that the village community group had advised there was a burst water main at Poffley End, so no water. Barely noticed and given the panic about the temperatures they were onto it quickly.  We did not bother to tell him about the tree as it was sorted, but the village drum beats loudly all the way to Scotland where they are holidaying. He had already advised us "how to cope with hot temps" 😵‍💫.  Jeff replied all under control re tree. Got the lawns mowed and then a terrific thunderstorm gave everything a soaking, perfect.

Just below the Sainsbury carpark is the Windrush River in Whitney so handy for another swim for dog , Omey, at days end.

Stick chasing in action.

Next day in the car early heading to Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury. Hectares of parklands and the "Rothschild pile" as Jeff calls it. Owned by the National Trust since it was gifted in 1957.  No one actually lives there and has been open; house, gardens, aviary etc to public for 65 years. Some 500,000 people visit every year. It was built 1874-1889 as a weekend retreat and to entertain the rich and famous. Also houses an enormous art and antiques collection. Rothschilds hosted evacuated children and asylum to jewish boys over World War 2. These days exhibitions, sculpting, artists get opportunities. Various films, TV programmes are filmed there. 

Rothschild wanted to replicate the French Chateaux style. Very OTT but amassing wealth via banking can have that effect, apparently.

The usual scaffolding for the endless maintenance required.

Gardens were stunning 

The parklands were excellent with many large deciduous trees. Although we are members of the National Trust via Heritage NZ, we did not go into the house, aviary etc. We love these walks.

Good views over Buckinghamshire.

A chap at the hardware store in Witney, where Jeff bought replacement spouting, bracket, was a lapsed kiwi having lived in the UK for 24 years. He mentioned a great village to visit, walk and a river Omey could swim in called Bibury. There was also a cafe in the area called "The Country Kiwi" run by a chap from Invercargill no less.

Bibury is on the River Coln and was in the Doomsday book, 1086 AD. It is a major destination for tourists due to the row of weavers cottages from 1380, historic mill and fab teahouse. We were really only interested in the 8km river loop walk and so we were there by 8.30am and had the place to ourselves before the hoards, and heat arrived. Omey loved the swimming of course.

The most photographed Weavers cottages at 8.30am. Masses of selfie takers by 11am.

Delighted to walk past a white heron

What was the flour mill.

This is a family home just out of the village, hidden out of sight really.  

We called into the teahouse and met a couple who have made a business out of taking in greyhounds while owners are on holiday, good opportunity spotted. They are booked out until November taking four at a time plus their own called Fox. A bit drippy but a gentle soul, the greyhound that is.

The Country Kiwi cafe was very busy with lunch trade so not much of a chance to talk to the owner, Aaron. They stocked some kiwiana - pineapple lumps, Whittakers peanut slabs which the lass serving said they sell out of "all the time".

One of the joys of countryside UK is the public paths, bridleways, permissive paths everywhere. A field of wheat, barley etc will have a path right through the middle of it. These public right of way exist independently from land ownership originating from pilgrimage routes, Roman roads and Neolithic tracks.  We are never short of paths through woods, fields, along streams etc. In saying that, many rivers are "Private" for fishing.