Last (long) weekend Sue and I embarked on a tour, visiting six households and enjoying a variety of diversions.
Thursday
We started by pootling down to Half Moon, near Exeter, where Trevor proudly displayed his Brexton picnic kit. I don’t really know what brought this on, but Robert’s ears may have been burning.
Robert is an occasional ‘outdoors blogger’. In between times he earns a living. Will this link result in an increase in Robert’s visitor count from 00000181, I wonder?
Friday
Sue and I enjoyed a day at Ashburton Cookery School, where Phil assisted in the concoction of some delicious fayre.
I’ll be posting a separate report on the day’s activities, after which we returned with well filled ‘doggie bags’ to share later with Maureen and Trevor.
Saturday
As previously indicated, I had been requisitioned to take a photo before leaving Half Moon. This is it.
Back in 1998, Robert and Lyn learnt how to make stained glass windows, mirrors, etc. Despite their website, they seem to be too busy doing other things these days. The window above is perfect for its location – I don’t think R and L have seen it in situ (hence the photo).
Leaving Half Moon until the day when we’ve saved up for another cookery course, we headed in to the ancient city of Exeter.
The cathedral on this site was founded in 1050. Whilst some of the original Norman construction survives, most of the building comprises a major rebuild, in Decorated Gothic style, carried out between around 1270 and 1350.
A magnificent building.
We rushed off for lunch with Colin, Liz and Simon, in exchange for some CCS and a lesson on how to play Yatzy. This proved more confusing than expected, as their version - ‘Yahtzee’ – sported rather different rules to the ones with which we are familiar!
After this delightful interlude we pushed on to visit Ralph and Gillian in Crewkerne, where they share their home with Jack and two elderly cats. Everyone here seems long-lived. Jack, the parrot, is 44, for example, and may outlast us all.
Sunday
We gorged ourselves last night, again. A delicious pork roast. I think we may be over-eating!
Gillian, pictured below with Sue’s dad, dug out loads of old photos that will keep Sue entertained for weeks.
Moving on….
A short drive found us slithering (literally – black ice) over the Mendips to Blagdon, where our culinary delights continued with one of Lyn and Simon’s excellent roast chicken dinners.
We had to walk it off! Simon still had a rugby induced hangover to dispose of. Luckily the weather was perfect for a walk, and the Mendip Hills beckoned. Ben and Polly enjoyed their fifth birthday a few days ago, and they managed the 5km walk completely under their own steam. It may be the longest walk they have done.
And possibly their first summit – we reached the trig point at Beacon Batch – 325 metres – with expansive views towards Bristol and the mouth of the River Severn.
I didn’t realise it at the time, but this is indeed a ‘proper’ summit, with a relative height of more than 500 feet compared with its nearest neighbour, making it a ‘Marilyn’. Perhaps a start to Ben and Polly’s ‘bagging’ careers.
From the trig point we entered a deep groove inhabited by mountain bikes, leading to Black Down, from where we did indeed proceed ‘down’ a pleasant path, eventually contouring east to regain the car park near Ellick Farm shortly before dusk.
Here’s our route – 5km, 200 metres ascent, around 2 hours.
Monday
Our tour concluded with a gentle drive home, punctuated by visits to Solihull and Eccleshall, on a dull day.
Manchester has remained dull all week – there’s been no incentive to go walking. Instead, I visited ‘town’ for lunch with Graeme, whose professional advice I’ve appreciated over the past 30+ years. He’s working part time now and may well appear shortly on one of our walks.
The building below brings back memories. I spent a few months here during the demise of Lewis’s, the department store. It was hard to sell, having the greatest square footage of any retail property in Manchester.
Back in Timperley – the ice on the canal still hadn’t all melted despite the warm weather. Note the icy sheen on the picture below…
The ice has all gone now, as I write on Saturday afternoon.
For those who may be interested, there’s a 60 image slide show of our tour, here.
