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The Cotswold Cheese Company
Friday was forecast as another hot day so off early to a village called Burford, another Cotswolds stunner and only 20 mins away. Being there by 9am is the trick to have the place to yourselves basically. Had a lovely feel about it, many independent quaint shops.
Moved on to the Burford Garden Company is an Oxfordshire institution at 6 hectares of all things plants, just mind blowing. Dogs not allowed in so we took turns to stooge about.
Time for a cooling swim for Omey so went back to Minster Lovell but she would not go into the river, just a muddy duck pond. Jeff had to lift her back into the car, a muddy mess, then we hosed her off back at 1 Wood Lane. Heat of the day lessened by 6pm so we took Omey on the public pathway to the "Bird in Hand" pub 20mins walk for Friday night drink and dinner. The English classic fish pie was pretty good washed down by a lager. A bassett hound and Omey ignored each other.
Yes they still have post boxes in the UK but slowly disappearing.
Saturday due to visit our next housesit at East Garston for a famil. A woods walk for an hour and a half for the dog to take off the edge, she was quite happy to sit in the car for the hour to East Garston. Crane Farm is a big property and we will be caring for a horse and two black labradors. When we arrived all dogs got on well . Met Paul, Yvonne and tbeir cleaner; who has worked at Crane farm for years. Unfortunately the horse has laminitis so a lot more faffing about to care for him as he can not stay in the field after noon. Nice folks who had never had housesitters before. We were recommended to them from a job we did in Berkshire a couple of years ago. Agreed to arrive on the Tuesday night before tbey depart so as to go over the horse regime the morning of their departure.
Swept by the Windrush River on the way home for a dog swim, beside herself with delight.
Next day we headed out for an 8km loop at Asthall. Lovely rolling downs past St Marys church. We walked past headstones and to our amazement come across the infamous Mitford sisters all in a row. Unity, the Hitler lover/ Nazi who tried to commit suicide when Britian declared war on Germany, Jessica the Communist, Diana the socialist and Nancy. There were three other siblings. An upperclass aristocratic family all mad as hatters, inbreeding seems to do that. All girls were expected to disregard formal education and marry young to a prosperous husband.
Sunday and the villages were heaving with tourists but nothing prepared us for driving past Jeremy Clarkson's lasted venture - Diddly Squat Farm Shop and "The Farmers Dog" pub. Hundreds of people, cars and coaches. It was rammed so we beat a hasty retreat back to Wood Lane. A neighbour in the village and his wife called in for afternoon tea. He had been design engineer for the Arrows F1 team then head hunted as design engineer by Renault Alpine formula one team which was apt as we watch the Formula One racing here every Sunday night on Channel 4 - Austrian this week and Silverstone next Sunday.
Next day another walk and another church called St Oswalds. A lady saw our small backpacks with "kiwi" on them and said "you must go into the church on your walk as it is on the site of a Roman Villa and is mainly 13th century...." She was not wrong. Murals from 1348 were still on two walls showing people alive and dead with the reminder to "live today" as death finds us all; whether king or pauper.
Went back to Huffkins at Burford with a wet dog after a walk and swim. Scrummy scone and clotted cream for Jeff and Victoria sponge for me. Delicious.
Jeff very keen to go back to the Jeremy Clarkson project before we left the area. Tuesday morning still very busy and to be honest we were very underwhelmed. People are like lemmings buying mugs, teeshirts, bacon burgers and beer. Farmshop produce was pitiful. The Hawkestone beer is good says Jeff but otherwise do not waste your time.
The bacon burger team
So owners of Omey arrived back 2pm, said our goodbyes and we headed off to Newbury to get supplies to take to East Garston. The Cranes Farm is 10 minutes by car from tbe village, pub only, and Newbury for essentials 25 minutes. Paul and Yvonne busy packing to depart for Canada for three weeks so we got ourselves setup - groceries, bedding etc.
Different area, plenty of tasks, friends will call in and super property.
Cottage that visiting relatives stay in and workshop, office at right.
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