We had planned to go somewhere Tuesday as originally the weather forecast was promising a good day. However when the morning dawned it seemed rather dull and drizzly, but nevertheless we decided to set out for Upton House (NT) as, if it continued to rain, we would have an interesting house to look around, it not, then the gardens are rather good (or at least they were, the last time we visited many moons ago). It is not somewhere we have visited very often and therefore the route is not implanted in the memory like our other haunts. In the past, Jane would have read the map and Colin drive the car - and no, we didn't get lost! But this strategy won't work now as Colin isn't allowed to drive and map reading whilst driving doesn't work either! Try the SatNav we hear you cry! Well we did - or at least Jane did. Planning a route on a map is rather easier than with a satnav which wants to take you along a route you'd rather avoid! So, rather than doing this, we thought we'd switch the satnav on if we needed it, and Colin decided to map read (even though he had doubts unbeknown to Jane!). All went swimingly until we got to Chipping Camden, and then Colin didn't know where we were - so a quick stop to switch on the satnav. However, to cut a long story short, we ended up going in a circle and Jane, seeing the road to Hidcote (NT), decided to head for there instead, as lunchtime had already approached and we had a picnic to eat! By the time we'd finished our picnic, the rain had cleared and the sun was coming out, so we decided to stay there and had a lovely look around the gardens, which had changed considerably since we visited with our friends a few weeks ago. The fold-up chair proved very useful and was used periodically when a bench was not available. Oh, and tea and cake was welcoming in the tea room before our departure.
Last Thursday was another promising day weatherwise, so we took ourselves off to Bourton House gardens, which we have been meaning to visit for years! We are so glad we did - it being much larger than we'd imagined. It had many colourful borders and lovely views over the rest of the Cotswolds. It was rather a relaxing sort of place - not too many visitors so it was easy to see the whole without too much interruption of the view! And of course, the barn provided teas with cake!
So, that's been our week, interspersed with visits to the garden centre, Worcester hospital and the opticians, and a bit more of sorting out the garden. Colin has also done a few Mondays of volunteering at Regents again, and has finally sorted the journals (about 30 shelves worth!) and has now started helping with bar-coding some of the new books. Another week dawns to look forward to.......
Colin and Jane.