Five are together again

 The day of our holiday dawned at last. The sun was beating down as we packed the car. As if! It was cold and miserable, but at least dry. We were all just happy to be holidaying again. Except Ian, who, thankfully, was tetchy and cantankerous. Thankfully because that’s his default mood at the start of any holiday and it put us all in the spirit. 

Let the fun commence

As predicted (by me!) we couldn’t fit the contents of a stately home and Misty in the boot so she had to go at my feet again.

Misty gets comfy

We called in and collected Ian’s mum, Amy and Monty, before setting off at precisely 10.15. The kids, mum, and Monty and Amy were in one car, and ian and I and all the luggage in another.

Monty and friend

Monty and Amy get comfy

Things went a little awry when Ian and I were chatting pleasantly and missed the turning for the M42! All worked out well in the end though as the others got there first and bought the lunch. 

One man and someone else’s dog

Hopwood fun

We gave the dogs a walk on the boggy ground before resuming the journey to Susan’s house. 

As we headed south the heavens opened, then closed, then opened again. On repeat. Very strange weather. 

Rain? What rain?

That didn’t stop this guy driving with his roof down though!

We had a hiccup when negotiating Susan’s road as the trees overhead had a good go at knocking the bikes off the roof. We finished off the journey on foot.

We couldn’t stay long due to meeting the house lady at five, so we handed Misty off to the kids and traipsed back to the car. More rain accompanied us to Marlborough, but we arrived in bright sunshine, a wide open door, and a very smiley face. The lady showed us around and vaguely explained everything before pulling us aside and, in a stage whisper, told us that the real reason she greets everyone in person is because the owner wants her to warn them NOT TO GO INTO THE WATER!! She then looked sideways at us and said, “but you don’t look the type”. 

The kids arrived just as the lady left and we all rushed upstairs to bag the best bedrooms, leaving the broom cupboard for Vicky and Alex. Ours was a choice between an en suite up two flights of stairs with not much view, or the bedroom next to the bathroom up one set of stairs with a fabulous view over the millpond and beyond. We chose the latter, for obvious reasons. It really is a lovely spot.

Ian surveys his domain

Kathy slaves away over a hot Aga

Our house

The lady of the manor

The lord and ladies lands

We decided on a takeaway as we needed to wait in for the Tesco man. The Zaika Inn obliged us with a lovely one, and the man on the phone and I struck up a close friendship over the phonetic alphabet. Unfortunately, Mr Tesco showed up at almost the same time causing a bit of a rush. 

While Einar settled in for an the evening of scantily clad maidens that is Eurovision, complete with his Norwegian snacks, Ian, Kathy and I went for a walk in the mud. We walked down one side of the river, over a bridge, and back down the other side, passing some mega pads along the way. We also saw some Red deer, some Muntjac deer, and the family of swans that live in our pond.

Wiltshire sunset

Mrs Swan and babies

Back at the ranch the stars were out in force, but too tired to view them with the telescope it was a glass of red then bed. We had new arrivals and visitors expected tomorrow.