Oxfordshire

Hello everyone. Well it is certainly autumn here, rain, wind, falling leaves and muddy footpaths - glad I brought a good coat! Yesterday we made it to Warwick Castle which is about an hours drive from here. We spent all day there as it is quite extensive and also we didn't get there till midday anyway. It dates back to the 1000s, like many things around here. The first thing we did was tour the dungeons and learned about the various methods of torture applied at the time, which made everyone squirm and wonder why anyone could suggest our modern times are more violent. We toured the grand hall, the state rooms, the gaol and the grounds, climbing hundreds of stairs and worse, climbing down hundreds of stairs, but the views of the surrounding countryside were well worth the effort. There was also a birds of prey show and I got some fabulous shots. Today was our last day with Michael and Adie. Janine and John arrived safely and we all went for a walk. It was a blustery day, and as we walked along the muddy track, I wish I could say the delightful scent of wildflowers filled the dells and meadows. However, the damp smell of sheep shit made it a truly rural experience. And as we walked, we picked the wild, rain washed blackberries from their spiteful vines, reminding me of Enid Blyton's Famous Five stories. Aah England, I just love you! Off to Prague tomorrow so cheers for now.