Snowdrops

Often I am asked at work on a Thursday or Friday "Where are you off to this weekend?" When I replied "We are having a weekend around Bristol" the look of relief of my work colleagues faces made me smile.  I think that they were pleased they didn't have to think of me in warmer climes while they stayed in Bristol.  So, after a nice relaxing start to Saturday morning (Harry spent a few hours trying to fix up our trip to the Italian Lakes later on in the year.  Easyjet had given us plenty of warning about cancelled flights but we had booked the rental car, car park at Bristol airport and the hotel separately).  Now we are having to drive to Gatwick and stay an extra night - isn't that a shame!!).  It was a sunny morning until we walked out the door to go to Blaise Hamlet (that should be a new Murphy's Law).  We'd been to the estate before but not to the little hamlet down the road.  Built and designed by John Nash (famed for Buckingham Place, Royal Mews, Marble Arch, Brighton Pavilion to name a few), this little hamlet was a prototype for pensioner housing - I could live there I really could.  Presumably not many hamlets were built because we haven't seen many groups of nine little thatched and tiled cottages - all looking very different and facing on to a communal green and with drive on access.  They were so cute and in the middle of the city.

We then wandered around the estate across the road - last time we were here it was torrential rain - I remember it well because somewhere along the path when Harry and I were looking and feeling rather drenched we decided we had to buy umbrellas and leave them in the car - which we did and still have.  We didn't need them today.  It was cold but dry and we walked along the path beside the river in the opposite direction to the runners that were taking place in a Spring Fun Run.  We took some photos of snowdrops - after all that is why I suggested the walk in the first place but they were a bit disapppointing really - and walked along the not so well worn route (why would we chose tarmac when there is mud?) and arrived back in time to compile a dinner for Sheila and Paul.  We'd been supermarket shopping earlier that week and were slightly prepared.  We started off going to buy ingredients for soup, chicken curry and chocolate pudding but came out with salmon, lasagne and fruit crumble all because we couldn't find what we needed in the shop. It had had its monthly change around and that doesn't suit someone like me who is an "in and out of the shop as quick as I can" type person.

Sunday was another slowish start and then with a packed lunch we drove the 30 or so miles to Lydiard Park. It was described as a "beautiful historic parkland on the western edge of Swindon". Apparently restored in the 18th Century with a walled garden and a huge parkland. We wandered around the lake and past the cold bath that took its waters from the lake. On it is a sign which I just have to record ...
"George IIIs doctors favoured sea bathing, but river, mineral spring or lake water were preferred for different ailments. However, not everyone considered that the treatment was universally effective. 
Cold bathing has this good alone It makes Old John to hug Old Joan
And gives a sort of resurrection
To buried Joys through lost erection
And does fresh kindnesses entail
On a wife tasteless, old and stale.
Cold baths became fashionable in the 18th century. Pamphlets suggesting daily plunging to cure madness, rickets, leprosy and asthma, but also to counteract the effects of over eating and drinking by the wealthy. some doctors recommended head first, but others advised walking down steps as far as possible and then ducking in two or three times". After all that we walked around the lake and amused ourselves by watching little birds skate across the ice and kept out of the way of more runners and walkers because today was the Swindon Mad March Hare!! Underneath some of the trees there was a white carpet of snowdrops - where Caramello relaxed for a while in the sun. The Walled Garden which I had already decided would be spectacular had very little in it (viewed from our spy hole in the wall) and so we had our picnic and went for a drive through Cricklade (first town on the Thames - which is a very little river at its beginnings) and Cirencester which was a cute little town but closed for Sunday (except for the Cornish Pasty place that had nice coffee, comfy chairs and interesting photos on their walls). So, we came back early and did some bits and pieces before going to Chris's for dinner.