Another lazy start to the day and another slow but perfectly cooked hot breakfast in The Fox. We were in no hurry to get moving today as the forecast was for persistant showers this morning before getting out later.
However we set off optimistically and headed to visit the ‘Slaughters’ with Lower Slaughter to be our first stop. My optimism disapaeraed as we got out of the car in light rain. I may have moaned once or twice about this being the reason why I hate holidaying in this country.
Lower Slaughter turned out to be the quintisessial Cotswold village with a beautiful clear stream running through the centre. In fact it was probably prettier than even Disney could recreate and that was in the wet weather. We wandered around but decided due to the weather to drive to Upper Slaughter rather than walking. However this was to only after having a hot drink in The Slaughters Country Inn.
This was a pleasant enough place in it wasn’t for a coach load of German tourists who seemed to have forgotten that none of their football teams won a European trophy this year and just pushed in front of me in a queue to order the drinks. I sighed and tutted loudly in a very British way.
We drove to Upper Slaughter, but didn’t get out of the car and were glad we hadn’t bothered walking there.
Instead we drove onto Bourton-on-the-water. On a wet Wednesday lunchtime in early June it was full – very full. It was also still raining but there were tourists everywhere. As I slowly edged round the streets looking for a parking spot, I may have threatened to go home to Norfolk more than once. To Karen’s relief I did manage to find a slot.
So with raincoats on we had a walk round. It is a pretty place when it is dry, sunny and empty. But today it was none of those. There were no local shops – just shops to cater to the overseas tourist and much the worse for it. I cannot imagine it when the weather is better and in the main holiday season.
Karen found a ‘Seasalt’ that we did venture into – mainly so that could while away some time. There was lots she liked but nothing she was prepared full price for.
It would be fair to say I was not feeling Bouton-on-the-water which is a shame as I have happy memories from previous visits although admittedly they were over 30 years ago.
My mood was not helped by the lack of any phone signal, meaning I could not use Waze to help me to our next destination. I had to guess until I pulled over when a signal miraculously came through. For a populous place the signal in much of the Cotswold area is very poor. Whilst on the subject of things wrong around here, I have ot mention the state of the roads or rather the small pieces of tarmac between hundreds of tyre wrecking pot holes. I am surprised Jeremy has not blown a gasket over the problem.
Celebrity count remained at zero. I was expecting to be bumping into the likes of Beckham, Alex James, David Cameron, Gordon Ramsey and even if the rumours are to believed Taylor Swift on every corner. They all seemed to be going to be on a concerted effort to avoid me. Their loss.
We then headed to Hidcote Manor Gardens, another National Trust property. It absolutely hammered it down as we drove there but as we pulled into the car park eased up and the clouds broke up with blue sky patches.
Another £22 admission saved through our membership. We grabbed a hot drink at the entrance before heading for the gardens. On our way in was a very small chapel that had been converted to the estates second hand bookstore. We had a good browse as we had the chapel to ourselves but no purchases were made.
The gardens were simply beautiful in their full summer bloom with some lovely features. There were plants and flowers we had never seen before. We wondered how many gardeners it must take to maintain them. Each garden was small and set out differently and designed so you had to go through a feature to get to the next one.
Then we found the main café and so felt it rude not to have another drink. Karen was also now having scone withdrawal symptoms and so had to purchase herself one.
After a quick look around an art exhibition in the house we went back to the car and drove the short distance to Chipping Cambden. This is another pretty enough Cotswold village but somehow felt rather run down and not sure of its own identity. There were lots of empty shops and properties many of which needed some serious money spent upon them. Yet there were a couple of nice shops next to each other so perhaps a renaissance has begun.
With that we headed back to chill in our room for a while. As ever I had just sat down when I was sent to the bar to collect milk for the room. The hotels approach is that no one likes either powdered milk or jiggers so they offer to provide fresh milk in tiny thermos flasks but these have to be collected if you want one. Now being the faddy one I do not like black tea and so I have been despatched each day to collect it (and on the first day to get a further refill).
About 6.30pm we headed down to the bar to get some food. Without really thinking about it too much we both ordered pie again, although different to the previous night. I did have food envy when I saw burger being delivered to another table but we both enjoyed our meals. Karen accompanied hers with wine whilst I washed mine down with some more Hooky cider. After adding our meal bill to our room bill, we again nipped across to the Sainsbury to buy some more fruit .
In our room we found that someone had previously left the Amazon Prime account logged in on the TV so watched a couple more episodes of Clarkson’s farm which Karen decided was better now she had been here and recognised places.
It was gone 10.30pm by the time I closed my eyes on another Cotswold day.
