With a beautiful autumn sunny day we packed our bags and headed south to the beautiful Cotswolds arriving about 4.00pm.  Our accommodation here is the refurbished Burford old mill.  We are on the second floor above the water fall overlooking the surrounding houses and mill stream.  Burford Churchyard was the scene on 17 May 1649 where three soldiers were executed on Oliver Cromwell’s orders. They belonged to a movement popularly known as the Levellers, with beliefs in civil rights and religious tolerance.

Burford (voted England’s most perfect place to live by Forbes Magazine),has a very pretty High Street, which is unusual for towns of this vintage.  Most towns are built around the main square.   After wandering the main street we turned into our street & decided to stop off at the local pub (one of many in town) for a pint on our way home.  Well! That was our intention anyway.  Seems every man AND his dog decided to do the same thing.  Got caught up meeting and chatting with locals whilst stepping over their sleeping dogs.  Several hours later we ambled home.  One of the many interesting guys we met, Robert Burnside, was in the same trade as Ken’s father and his father and his father before him – shoe making.  Robert makes winkle pickers.  www.19-60.com – ex Succhi ex Giorgio Ferrari.  Needless to say the conversation included words like lasts, clickers, hides etc.  After more than one pint we all rambled off to our various abodes to get some well earned rest so we can start scouring this famous country side.

Sunday – it’s raining!  Hmm wonder what time the pub opens?

Monday still raining but none the less we headed off to Bath.  It’s a beautiful city with its grand Georgian architecture.  Did the obligatory red bus tour (only two couples on bus so had personalised tour) then walked around city and across the Putney Bridge.  Love the curved streets with the curved house facades to match.

Whilst meandering our way home we found an Aldi – YEH!!!  Did a week’s shopping – butter, yoghurt, fruit, veggies, juice, bread, cereal, meat etc. plus a bottle of wine for £28.00, really brings home how much we get ripped off in Australia.  So before settling down to cooking, we wandered to the end of the street, to our local, for a pint.