A hikin' we did go!

yes, Saturday saw us out for a five mile hike! And we did NOT get lost, which we both felt was a great achievement. Lots of beautiful fields, old churches, manor houses, old granaries...well it is just OLD around here..and very peaceful. We did walk up a really muddy trail by a small creek--mostly it felt like we were walking IN the creek--and when we reached the top we were sure we'd taken a wrong turn. So we were going to go back down and try a different path but luckily I asked a farmer nearby who told us we were in the right place. And then had a nice chat with him while he told us how being in the EU meant more and more regulations and forms to fill in/

Some of these hikes are so muddy, it feels like we're hauling an extra ten pounds of mud caked on each boot, and we both feel like we have enough extra pounds on us as we already are! The end part of our walk saw us moving pretty slow--or maybe I should just speak for myself. Mary is a better hiker than me, no question.

We ended at The Fox and Badger, a really picturesque 16th century pub, where we indulged in a pint and a sit down. It was the first pub I'd been in that helped me realize why pubs are so popular here--it was warm and cozy and welcoming. The only grotesque element were the several stuffed badgers and foxes around the place--I'm not really accustomed to taxidermy! I couldn't figure out why they had them, til I finally recalled the name of the place...duh!

Mary and I are going to London on Feb. 13--she wants to read in the British Library and I am meeting with colleagues. We are cat-sitting for some interpreters I met in Spain last summer...then they come home and M and I are going to Brighton for two days and a night--the gay capital of England apparently...then back to London to impose on other friends, who are then taking us to their country house in Rye. I have no idea where that is. So we will be back in Peasedown Feb. 26--though I am sure I will be blogging away while we move about.

Stay in touch--we love our friends!
K