Oxford or Bust

And away we go again. After our Gloucester sojourn we headed out again into the sunshine - at this rate I will be able to remove the coat and scarf soon, over hills and dales through to Painswick - all narrow roads and stone cottages - through to Stroud - hilly town with not a lot going for it except Fat Toni Pizzas- and through to Cirencester for lunch.

Cirencester is again a bit upmarket and browsing the shops is interesting but we would never buy anything. Its all tailored, tweed and formal. Even the sandwiches are exorbitant - so on principle we share a cheese n tomato sanga in the park. The sun is out and these Brits keep insisting on removing their clothes. Whew! the reflection is blinding. We are down to jeans and t- shirts - until the clouds come over.

Through some back roads to some well known beauty spots - so busy we couldn't find a park in town to admire Barnsley or Bibury - bugger it - we went cross country - through huge fields of rape seed (canola) flowering with a yellow lime neon glow for miles. Ross wanted to run into the fields but I convinced him that a picture would do and we were less likely to get shot.

Heading for Oxford we passed Lechlade on Thames and A National Trust House - Buscot Park - oops did I say passed? Ross convinced me to stop. Have I mentioned our lovely house swap people have left their National Trust passes and we get in for nothing, instead of 10 pound each, each time, quite a saving. We have visited about 10 places so far and they are all different and all interesting. Buscot Park is still inhabited by the family who maintain the grounds and the older house is open to the public. I suppose it is one way to help with the maintenance and upkeep of this huge manor house and grounds.

Lakes with fishermen dotted around the shore, walled gardens, lily ponds and waterfalls, the house was smallish but interesting. I just love walking the gardens. They even had 17 Chinese Warriors all still wrapped from winter. Not sure why. We were just heading up the steps from the warriors when we came a cross a snake sun baking - green we think - but what are the chances in England!

Ross impersonation of a Chinese Pottery Warrior - can hardly tell the difference - only the mo

On to Cumnor to stay at the Bear and the Ragged Staff - a 17th century inn with low beams and lintels that has been renovated and turned into accommodation, dining and still remains the local watering hole. We settled in and had a half pint in the sunshine before dinner and bed. The walls are covered in architectural drawings and sketches. J you would like these! Would definitely stop here again. The staff were great, the food good and they gave us plenty of suggestions for Oxford tomorrow.

Oxford is only 10 minutes from Cumnor - open countryside to busy city in 10. We got a good park and completed a walk around the city - churches, universities, markets, bikes, bikes, did I say bikes, gardens and museums. We even found Jamie Oliver's Restaurant but it was shut. We had a huge cooked breakfast at Cumnor that morning and so didn't bother with lunch - so tired and happy we drove home, did the washing, had tea and an early night.