Lacock (part one)

I'm not going to witter on much on this post, I'll (mostly) just let the photos do the talking.

We didn't go into this pub but apparently it dates back to 1361, has a grand open fireplace with a dogwheel.

Part of the building below was once the workhouse.

This house is on the corner of the High Street is was one of my favourites. The steps up to the front door, he colour of the door, the lavender, the shape of the house itself, just loved it all.

Nearly all the buildings in Lacock are owned by the National Trust and one of these cottages in this row (though I'm not sure which one!) is available to rent as holiday accommodation.

I tried as much as possible to take photos without the residents cars in shot, but sometimes it was unavoidable.

The tithe barn, which was beautifully cool inside and very welcoming for that reason.

Walking along this path was part of our journey to and from our B&B.

Some favourite snippets.
Detailing on one of the houses.

A fantastic display of flowers for sale all at very reasonable prices too.

G liked this owl standing guard outside one house. 

This little window is round at the side of my favourite house on the High Street.

Hope you have made it to the end of this picture heavy post and that this last photo makes you go 'awww'.
We spent quite a while watching this little kitten and another cat playing up in a tree having so much fun together. Too cute.

There's one more post to come!

16 years

In mid June G took a trip to Chippenham with his brother, niece and mum. The destination was this building below as it was the venue for an art exhibition of work by carers from all across Wiltshire and G's mum was one of them.

After looking around the exhibition and Chippenham itself they went onto Lacock for lunch.

If you watched the wonderful TV series Cranford a few years ago then you would recognise Lacock as the BBC filmed it in this most bea-u-ti-ful of unspolit locations. G said he was wandering around thinking 'Lisa would love this so much, I should be here enjoying this with her.' 
So after asking my mum if she would stay and look after T and S he booked us a night away to celebrate our 16th anniversary.
How totally fabulous is he!!!! 

Friday we took the train to Bath Spa, love the benches, then took the train to Chippenham

 where we wandered around the small town centre for an hour and had lunch by the river. G relaxed in the shade

and I pulled silly faces.

I didn't take too many photos but the blogger in me couldn't resist snapping a few things which caught my eye.

Like this building

the town's emblem 'unity and loyalty'

fabulously pretty doors and letterboxes

a sign for the Bear Hotel, his face looks a bit mean, but he has his arms out like he wants a hug, or maybe that's just the way I saw him?!

and I love the night bell by the front door of the hotel.

Should you ever find yourself in Chippenham I urge you to visit Magpie. It is a treasure trove of really reasonably priced collectables and it was the one place G was really looking forward to going back to as half of the shop is given over to LP's. He didn't leave empty handed.

After we finished our shopping we took the bus to Lacock. Oh my Oh my. It was jaw droppingly picturesque. I will save the photos of the village for a separate post as there are (ahem) a few.......

By now it was mid afternoon and so we went to book into our B&B. To get to it we had to walk across a field populated with sheep, most of which had taken shelter under this tree.

Next we had to cross a little bridge and this was the view to the left

and this to the right.

This pair of thatched cottages face the bridge and I wanted to get a better photo than this but one of the owners was working in their garden and so I had to take it at a distance, but I'm sure you get the idea of just how gorgeous they are.

This has to be one of the prettiest settings for a post box I have ever seen.

Just a stone's throw away is Damson Cottage where we were to spend the night. 

We were shown to our room, which was very comfortable and homely, by Dilly who runs the B&B. Whilst we sorted out our overnight things (and various purchases) Dilly made us tea and coffee. This was taken in the garden, under the shade of the apple tree whilst we listened to the Test Match. Words can not describe how totally and utterly relaxed we felt. It was completely wonderful. 

I did start off reading my new book club book but in the end I couldn't resist the lure of stretching out on the bench and I fell asleep for a while. Bliss.

We wouldn't hesitate recommending Damson Cottage to anyone who was looking for somewhere to stay in Wiltshire. G had a full English for breakfast which he said was delicious and I had the best scrambled eggs I have ever eaten. Dilly is very friendly and welcoming and the location is perfection. 
We are both hoping a return visit sometime in the future is on the cards.

How Long Has It Been

since I last blogged? I have been a bit rubbish with finding time to get on-line recently. Life just goes like that sometimes I suppose, so in an effort to catch up (again!) there now follows a selection of randomness.

The Saturday after our hot dog picnic we all went to Netley Abbey for a couple of hours. It is quite rare these days for all 4 of us to take a trip together and for it to happen twice within the space of one week is nothing sort of miraculous. T had a smashing time on both occasions, we think that perhaps he just forgot going out with your mum and dad can be fun.

So to prove he was with us here he is doing a less intense version of the Karate Kid pose!

My mum rang me very excitedly one afternoon to say she was looking through the local paper, just as she does every day, and there on the page staring back at her was T and S, a photo taken at the sponsored walk! G is at the back with part of his head on show and all you can see of me is my leg as S is stood slap bang in front of me. We didn't realise we were going in the paper so I nipped to the shop sharpish and bought a copy for G's mum to keep.

How good do these cookies look? I can vouch for their deliciousness. They were made one evening by T and S. One evening after we had eaten T asked if he could bake a cake, I said he could  but he had to choose which one and do it himself. He is a great one for wanting to get someone else to do everything else for him! In the end he decided cookies would be quicker. S was very keen to help and between them they did it. It was lovely watching and listening to them work together.

It is the season of the summer fete and I took S to one a couple of weekends ago.  The organisers had devised a decathlon for the children which included throwing wellies, balancing along a bench, scoring a goal, putting a golf ball and scrambling under a tarpaulin. Once all were completed a certificate and small bar of chocolate were awarded.

G and I have been very busy in the back garden. We've been to the tip and finally got rid of the last bits and pieces of rubbish. Window boxes have been planted for the front of the house and strawberries were bought from B&Q for a very reasonable 6 for £3.00 and hung in hanging baskets in the back garden. The honeysuckle is out and it smells heavenly. There is still lots more to do but it's so much tidier and that helps enormously.

Then at the end of our busy days we have a rest in these. Stripy deckchairs which used to belong to my dad. So many reasons to love them.

S's school have held there first proper sports day. They always do something, but it's in the concrete playground and so is a bit restricted, no playing fields for them. But this year each year group was taken to the City sports centre and parents were able to go along and watch. We saw S take part in the 4x100 relay. She was on the second leg and her team were in second when she took over, by the time she did her leg they were in first and they finished second over all. Well done S you're the best!

And so to last weekend, Sunday to be precise. We all (yes again!) went into town for the Thai festival. Sweet chilli chicken, chicken satay, prawn tempura and noodles were all enjoyed once we had walked up and down the various food stalls and decided which one liked the look of the most.

J is a friend of T's. They went to Infant and Junior school together and still keep in touch now and she was dancing at the festival and she looked gorgeous in her beautifully bright coloured dress.

As well as the traditional dancers the Lady Boys were on hand strutting their stuff in skimpy outfits

I haven't been out and about in charity shops or any shops really but I did manage a quick look in a couple on Saturday when we went to Salisbury where I found the cutest little egg cup which had to come home and live on the dresser.