Damo's gaff

Old bud Dale came down for the day. We walked from Cowley through wind swept fields, high up on the Cotswolds, where the wind howled all the time with spots of snow and hail flecking the air.

A quick sandwich and a cup of tea at The Cotswold Diner (a small road side cafe in a converted single decker bus) refreshed us, before we headed in the car to Belas Knapp, a 5,500 year old burial mound near Winchcombe.

Then onwards to Toddington to stroll around Toddington church and view from a far, Damian Hirst's gaff - Toddington Manor.  It was shrouded in tarpaulin, but you could get a sense of how grand it was.  I hope he finishes it, as it takes someone with a vision and money to restore fantastic buildings like this before they crumble into dust.

Very nice

I went up to Jane's on Thursday for my Birthday. We the 'twins', took mum out to Bridgnorth for the afternoon, very relaxing. We ended the day with a takeaway curry.

All day Friday I chilled at Jane's and drove back home in the evening.

On Saturday I went for a spin with Nic, two and half hours exploring farm tracks in the wonderful Cotswolds - it was lovely.   In the evening I was invited for tea with a friend and a wine tasting evening.

William was home for the weekend which is always a joy.  A fine few days.

War Horse

On Saturday Jane came down and we, Jane, Little Tim and Jess, drove to Bath to pick up William and then head to Bristol Hippodrome to watch an evening performance of War Horse.  It was really fantastic, the puppet horses are so good that they suspend belief and I'd recommend it to everyone.

The weekend was marred slightly by me picking up a bug of some sort - on Friday I just could't get warm, all Friday evening I was up with Deli Belly! so on Saturday I was shattered - but I dosed up and sat through the performance.  Thanks Jane and Jess for looking after me on Sunday.

Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, the National Theatre's internationally-acclaimed production of War Horse is an unforgettable theatrical experience. 

Chilly Cleeve

On a bitterly cold morning we joined Nic and Luke for a blast around Cleeve Common. In the shadows the frost and a light dusting snow could be found, other than that the tracks were muddy and slippery - a fabulous morning.

William heads back to Bath today after a really busy but very rewarding week for him.