TRIPS AND VISITORS

Since last writing we’ve been quite busy planning the next couple of months and trying to fit everything into our remaining three months. It seems like a long time but time just seems to ruch by.
Having recovered from our wonderful visit to Budapest we decided to take it easy for a bit. We managed only one day trip to a place called Berrington Hall, yet another old stately home, this time in Herefordshire. This is an eighteenth century pile in a dark red stone and surrounded by the obligatory “Capability Brown” parkland and lake. The place was interesting enough for its beautifully decorated ceilings and paintings, but frankly you can get a bit jaded about these buildings. Nevertheless it was a very pretty drive in the countryside, which is looking very English with every village showing off its gardens and its rose covered cottages.
A day or so later we were visited by Barbara’s cousin Judy and husband Brian who were spending some weeks in the UK and France. We had a great time catching up and we took them down to the classic Cotswolds village of Lower Slaughter where we enjoyed traditional cream teas with jam and scones.
They stayed overnight and we took them to Blenheim Palace. By this time I had developed a bad back for no reason at all. It was some sort of spasm and it made walking around a bit difficult.
On the morning Judy and Brian left, we had a visit from two friends from Scotland, Ros and John, with whom we are going to stay when we visit Scotland next week. It was wonderful to see them, even if just for a coffee. Then they headed off and we drove Judy and Brian to the station.
Our next call was up the motorway to see friends of our son Paul and his wife Katy. They are Katrina and Brendan and their children Molly and Jilly and they live in Penn near Beaconsfield not far from High Wickham. Despite my back pain, we enjoyed a great dinner and spent the next morning visiting their daughter’s riding school before gathering for lunch in England’s oldest free alehouse. Called the Royal Standard of England, it has been there in one form or another since before the Romans. There we were joined by an old friend of Paul’s, Terry and his partner Helen. So there was a lot of talk of old times and one or two pints of ale besides.
Back home again we enjoyed Sunday roast beef and Yorkshire pud at our local pub with Fritha and Anthony.
I finally got to the doctor’s yesterday and am now happily relaxing under the influence of Valium. I am feeling much better and looking forward to a posh dinner next Friday. It’s my 69th birthday and the kids are taking us to Claridges. Can’t wait!!