Crisp Winter Walks

As we get further into Winter, I get increasingly enthusiastic about the attractions of a bright blue sky, frost on the ground, and an invigorating walk.  So far this year, the weather has been quite kind, so there have been lots of opportunities for lovely walks.   I always have a willing companion to encourage me out of the house:

The scene below is taken from one of my walks on Besbury Common - an easy 40 minute walk straight from the front door.  The views across the Golden Valley (around Chalford) are beautiful.  We are spoilt for choice regarding walks with lovely views, as there are loads of public footpaths (historically these were mill workers paths to get from where they lived, up on the hills, down to the mills, which were by the rivers, down in the valley).

If there are any soggy and miserable days this winter (and I'm sure there will be), I will curl up inside instead (after a brisk walk with Betsy) and document some of the walks so that my guests can enjoy the countryside around Minchinhampton, and also some of my favourite walks a bit further afield.  The cats will keep me company, as they are usually tired out after their mouse-hunting exploits.

Not long until Christmas

I bought my Christmas tree yesterday, from Miserden Nursery - an excellent place to buy a tree.  They trimmed it for me, put it in the car, and gave lots of helpful advice.  I had thought I would need to get it delivered, but it fitted in the car with no problems at all.  I even managed to get it into the house and into the tree stand all by myself.  Result!

I found the tree lights and decorations (after much searching in the attic) and spent a happy afternoon putting the various ornaments onto the tree.  My tree decorations are a motley selection (or should I say an eclectic mix) of individual ornaments and baubles, some new, but most going back years if not decades.   Two new ones this year - both presents from friends/family - a fluffy Christmas pudding and a felt reindeer wearing a red and white scarf.   I don't decorate the whole house - this is about it - but it shows willing.

Scam Emails

I must be learning something, as I am starting to recognise scam emails fairly readily.  The latest one arrived this morning.

This particular one slipped up by leaving the long list of recipients visible to all of us.  It appears that a group of people want to book a large number of rooms for a large number of days, and that they will simultaneously be in the Cotswolds and also in New Zealand, Scotland, the Hebrides and Ireland.

Not terribly convincing.

They tend to include some content to impress the recipient, imply a degree of urgency in replying, and use CAPITALS inappropriately.

I don't think I will be replying on this occasion.  I'll go back to working on some updated images for the web site....

Tea by the Fire

What could be better than tea in the drawing room, in front of a roaring fire, after a lovely dog walk on Minchinhampton Common?  Bliss...

Rodborough Common

It was a lovely day for a walk today.  Rodborough Common is one of my favourite places to walk as you can't get lost (or you would have to try very hard) and there is a large expanse of unspoilt countryside with panoramic views of picturesque hills and villages.  At other times of year there are lots of wildflowers and butterflies to look for, but just now, when the leaves are turning beautiful shades of yellow and orange, on a sunny day - what could be better?

Christmas bookings

I took my first Christmas bookings the other day, and am now fully booked on 27th and 28th December.  Lots of space before and after that - I will be open right through until early January - just on a B&B basis (please don't come here expecting me to cook your Christmas dinner!)

Christmas is such a lovely time of year, particularly when you get a crisp bright sunny day.  We get some snow in Minchinhampton, but not every year.  I think we have had a decent covering of snow about three times since I've been here - so maybe once every 2-3 years.  The atmosphere changes with snow, and I rather like that.  Maybe we will get snow this year??

Nicest times of the day

One of the nicest times of day is early in the morning, when, for the last month or so, I have been wandering up the garden to pick the autumn raspberries.   The raspberries grow like weeds and are threatening to take over one of the vegetable beds.   It's very satisfying being able to pick fruit and then, within half an hour, the fruit salad is complete and guests are starting to tuck in.  We are getting towards the end of the raspberries for another year.  Roll on next August!

The other particularly nice time of the day is when I take Betsy for a walk.  Today we walked through a field with sheep grazing, and decided to sit for a while.   Betsy sat quietly, and I suddenly noticed that a group of sheep quite close to us were giving Betsy their fullest attention.

And Betsy was watching them with interest.

All very amicable, and probably quite educational on both sides.