After a couple of months of restricted movement thanks to a shiny new hip, it is great to start planning some trips for the year ahead. Some UK visits, hopefully a trip to Ireland, tripping round France in “Tonto”, following the Tour de France – just a few things on the agenda 😂 As always we will have some travelling companions, “Puss and Ratfink” have been joined by “Pierre and Tigre”.
Just after Easter we loaded up for a trip to UK to visit family and friends and to explore a new area to both of us. Waving goodbye to our little Easter decorated village we hit the road to catch the ferry.
Easter Bunnies…………….?????
Loved the Easter Chooks 😊
Our departure from Ouistreham port has become very familiar now. After a leisurely 5-6 hour drive North (which incorporates a coffee stop and a picnic) , we stop overnight enjoying a lovely dinner and a stroll around the port before a good night’s sleep and an early am start – the holiday begins.
Soon after arrival in Gloucestershire we discovered that the Berkeley Point-to-Point was being held that weekend, so off we went to enjoy a sunny day in the English countryside. A well prepared little racecourse with all the fun of the fair in the way of swings, roundabouts and trade stands offering local cider and tempting craft items. Also an opportunity to observe “the country set” at play 😊.
The first few races were for ponies and junior jockeys ranging in abilities they certainly all looked the part.
It was interesting to hear via the commentary that this year’s National Hunt Champion Jockey raced at this very event as a Junior. Unfortunately the fields were rather small when it came to the horses but hats off to the ladies who rode in the side saddle race.
Always popular wherever they appear are the hound pack, could quite happily have taken this hunt horse home!
And so from the West Country we headed off on an adventure North to Northumberland, a county neither of us knew. With the weather on our side the trip up was easy and as for our destination there’s only one word for it – Stunning!!!
Right from the moment we arrived at our B&B the wonderful Hay House Farm I fell in love with Northumberland- the space, the welcome, the lack of crowds and the beautiful scenery. However it might look and feel a little different in the depths of Winter!
The views from our bedroom window.
If you’re ever in the area Rachel and Dan are the people to stay with, the house is a beautifully converted old farm house filled with local artworks and quirky items and as for the breakfasts – to die for!!! 5 star accommodation.
The reason for being up in that neck of the woods was to join a plein air weekend with the Society of Equestrian Artists. So whilst I was living the dream with a great group of people under the tutelage of artist Malcolm Coward, Chris headed off around the locality to various interesting and historical sites.
Just a few photos of the weekend venues Hay Farm Heavy Horses and Paul Robson Racing, plus surrounding scenery.
On the way back South after a fabulous weekend we looked in on Chris old family farm in Yorkshire ( sadly no longer in the family!) Peel Park Farm is now combining farming alongside a campsite, diversifying as so many are now required to do.
More to follow in Part 2 😂
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