I have a lot of catching up to up to do. Yesterday (Monday) we drove to Cerney Wick, a tiny village on the edge of the Cotswolds—50 houses and a pub. Paul and Hilary Blackford live in Mill Cottage. The original part of the house is 200 years old, while they have added on to make it a large and inviting space. They welcomed us warmly, as if we were old friends, though we really only spent one week with them last year.

The ride there was lovely. At Paul’s suggestion, we stopped at Ludlow and had a great lunch at the Charlton Arms by the river, sharing three starters and a sticky toffee pudding with sea salt ice cream. Amazing. Then we walked through the town, gawking and taking pictures.

We walked past an old inn and pub, in continuous operation for 600 years!

When we arrived at Mill Cottage, Paul opened champagne, and we dined on lasagna and salad, with ice cream and strawberries for dessert, mixed with lively conversation and plenty of laughter.

We each have our own bedroom! I slept so well!

This morning it was hard to get out of the house, as we lingered over the breakfast table, with good coffee and more conversation. But finally we made our way to Stow-on-the-Wold to start our village-to-village walk.

First, we walked around Stow:

And then we set off on the footpath that winds through fields and forests, first through Lower Slaughter and then to the most touristy Bourton-on-the-Water.

When we got home, we cleaned up enough to be presentable for dinner, as one of the other couples who were in Croatia with us, Jane and John, came as well. Hilary put on an amazing meal, Paul opened good wine and we all enjoyed being together until late in the night.