A good day to end on

Well it's just like the thing that whilst we're in the South West of England, we have the most extreme weather on record again. Four years ago it was a massive heatwave, this time it's flooding. But yesterday, the clouds had a rest fr a morning at least, and we basked in beautiful sunshine for what was to be our last full day on beautiful Porlock.

It was nice to sit and read outside with a mug of coffee, and hear the soothing sounds of the children screaming and laughing and playing and screaming and running and screaming. They had many bubbles, and endlessly played at chasing them around the large garden, whilst screaming.

After the screaming had subsided, a few of us adults (although children at heart obviously) made our own noise, in the form of some impromptu music. I donned a guitar, and was joined by Damon on accordion, his wife Kate on fiddle, Derek on ukulele and James on ukulele too. We played all the traditional music we knew, which turned out to be three tunes - Bonny at Morn, Scarborough Fair, and another one that had John or Legs or something in the name. Oh and Weel may the Keel Row, so that's four. Lovely it was by all accounts, and a great deal of fun it was too. We'd like to have done something traditional from the area, but we couldn't remember the words to I've Got a Brand New Combine Harvester. Shame.

After a light lunch of bread and cheeses we had a heavier lunch of pies, lard and cakes, then nothing could stop us from venturing forth to nearby Dunster, a true medieval village. We didn't know what a medieval village would be like but we were soon to find out, as we were met with open running sewers, dead animals and children littering the mud strewn streets, and pustulant plague-ridden toothless hags offering us vile concoctions of pureed calves brain and swan bile served in leather cups.

In fact Dunster was a charming and lovely little village built on a hill with a lovely castle at it's peak - now conquered by the National Trust. All of those castle dwellers of yesteryear should have thought on and been less afraid of invaders with horses and armour, and more wary of the ones with Barbour jackets, M&S knitwear and sensible walking shoes. The village had a quaint market hut sort of thingy (a googly did I hear Derek call it?) and a range of fine shops that sold everything from fudge and postcards, to postcards, fudge and postcards of fudge.

As we walked upwards to the castle, we passed some thatchers enthatchinating a house. Apparently houses with thatched rooves are  usually cheaper than ones with tiled rooves due to the expense of the upkeep. You need to replace the roof every 15 years at a cost of at least ten thousand pounds. Not so cocky now, those old homely grannies who peer out of the windows whilst they're making their fudge. They need to sell shedloads (thatched shedloads) to pay for their grassy burdens.

In the castle gardens we were delighted to encounter the friendliest loveliest cat we have ever had the pleasure to meet - with the exception of our own three cats. Heck - it was nicer than two of ours. It came up to us and allowed the kids to pet it for ages. The we had a bit of a look around the gardens the castle was closed for repairs unfortunately) and the kids were photographed next to the famous hockling swan pond.

In the evening back at the ranch, we indulged in a spot of barbequeing whilst the weather held, and later that same evening sang rounds and regaled ourselves with tales of the day in much the way you'd expect if you knew us. I bet you're glad, those of you who don't. And so ended our trip to the South West.

This morning was the clearing up and packing madness that has to be done and usually takes an hour longer than I expect - not helped by complications during the kids video-tour of the house. Editorial conflicts and creative difference divided the children, and I had to step in as executive producer and take some pretty tough storyboard changes. But it all got sorted out, and we eventually got in the car and drove off at 9.30am.

A swift nine hours later, and we're back home and unpacking. Voom! We could have been back from America quicker. But it was somehow a fun journey. The kids were great considering the amount of time they had to stay in a seat, and Toni did all but 2 hours of the driving. Great! She'd just gone off out again to pick up the cats. Let's see how traumatized Abigail is...

Comments

[lauren]

welcome home, glad you had a good time. Catch you all soon!

Are you watching BB this year?

[Rebecca]

Glad you had a fanatastic time and a good rest. No such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong coat, she says having just returned from Belfast which was 23 degrees and basking in sunshine. I did take the right coat though, you will be pleased to know.

[Tim the Enchanter]

We visited Dunster once, and loved it.

[Jason]

Yes Dunster is lovely, and I'd like to return one day when we have more time and the castle is open. Fortunately on this day I had the right coat too.

[fave sis michelle]

you had a great time im pleased.It looked lovely and the places you visited looked great also. Im pleased your back tho......... and was great seeing you today......nice cuddles xxxxxx

[Liz Curtis]

The impromptu band sound great fun ... no Toni on flute though? We should get together and do something like that here.
After long thought, I finally remembered the name of the hotel where I worked in the far off 70s. It was Doverhay Place. Probably doesn't exist any more.

[Jason]

Is this it Liz? http://www.propertyfinder.com/cgi-bin/rsearch?a=o&id=500752978

[ange]

No

[Liz Curtis]

Yes, it is. Thanks. Sad it's no longer a hotel. Don't think I'll be buying it!