A giggle of springer spaniels and a family farm - UK Nov/Dec 2016

James, Clare, Louise (James's sister) Stephen

Poppy and Nelly

It came time to leave Suffolk and head north.  We were on our way to Cumbria to visit (James' sister) Louise and Stephen at their new digs to which they had moved since we were last in the UK.

Never ones to miss an opportunity, we had booked a sit in Tamworth, Staffordshire, to break the journey.  Tamworth turned out to be a really pretty place with a huge park area within walking distance from the house.  Which was just as well, as we had come to care for two springer spaniels - Oliver and Merlin (only five months old and a bundle of fun) - who enjoyed two energetic walks around the area each day.

They were both very cute, Merlin was learning the ropes off his big brother Ollie really well and at only five months was a typical springer spaniel - full of energy, with a heart of gold and a sense of humour to boot ...

We also had the pleasure of the company of smoochy George, who also enjoyed Merlin's sense of humour :-)

And Millie .... not so much a fan of the pup

One big happy family really!

We were soon on the road again and heading north to the farm in Cumbria - near Appleby.  As we turned off the M6 at Tebay to head inland we could immediately see the attraction that Stephen and Louise had to the area when they chose to move here.  And when we got to the farm, well, it was obvious really.

View toward the Pennines

We had an eventful 10 days.  Louise and I manned the WI cake stall at the church Christmas fair,

The WI entry in the window competition - 2nd place

made a bunch of Christmas cards, the guys did some odd jobs around the farm and mucking out for these three beauties each day

Robbie, Apple and Trigger

Boooo

We also made sausages from some fresh farm pork and enjoyed the outcome very much

Homemade bangers and mash

Sausage making

Lou and Stephen took the opportunity to escape for a few days away and left us in charge of this mad lot of four legged furries.

Nelly and Poppy - lick attack!

Jeeves and Wooster

 We also hung out with Aunty Monica who, needless to say, was much better behaved than the Motley Crew!

The 'Barn' Cats trying to rob Monica of her dinner

Disclaimer: we only sit for children and the elderly for family!!!!

Our visit culminated in and early Christmas Dinner at the local pub and after all too short a time in rural Cumbria we were headed back to Suffolk, stopping in Barrowford to visit with Chez and our enjoying our favourite Yorkshire delicacy of chips 'n curry in Queensbury.

We were headed to a sit in Coney Weston, just up the road from two of our favourite terriers from Bardwell - see previous post.   In between the comedy (NOT!) of trying to get the back window of our car fixed before we left for France, and James having two teeth removed, we really were ready for a few quiet days in the country.  The house was a beautiful manor house with a staircase at each end leading up to the top floor.  It was warm and comfortable, Sammie the springer and the cats and horses were a pleasure to care for. We even managed a walk together with the Bardwell crew at Knettishall Heath.  Sammie had a ball with his new found friends and we loved catching up with them again.

Although we were ready to head south for warmer weather for the rest of winter, we were pleasantly surprised by the unseasonably hospitable autumn/winter we enjoyed in the UK this year.