All is well here in the heart of Leicestershire. It is 6.50 am on Monday morning and I am here at the dining table with the twelfth century tower of St Thomas a Becket church staring down at me from across our neighbours' garden.
Saturday was a grey overcast day though dry and warm enough. We headed up to Melton Mowbray for a look round and lunch before moving on to Oakham which is the capital of England's smallest county - Rutland. Rutland's motto is "Multum in Parvo" which means "Much in Little". We mooched around and eventually drifted over to The Grainstore Brewery near the railway station for liquid refreshment.
In the evening , after a homemade spaghetti bolognaise, we watched "Baby Driver" courtesy of Netflix. There were a lot of cars chasing around and crashing into each other as police sirens screamed. To me it was all unbelievable silliness that I felt pretty detached from. Not my kind of film at all.
On Sunday, summer returned. Stewart and I set off from the house for a long circular walk that took in the villages of Rolleston and Goadby. We were both wishing that we had worn shorts as the morning's thermometer rose. We rambled over rolling agricultural land noticing that some crops had already been harvested while others waited.
Rolleston is what is known as an "estate village", dominated by Rolleston Hall. There pheasants dashed about ignorant of the fact that they will soon be blasted to bits by rich people with guns. They call it sport but I call it cruelty. Meanwhile a lone swan floated serenely upon the lake.
Goadby was a delightful, well-heeled settlement with a lovely little church dedicated to St John the Baptist. We went inside and felt its peace. I prayed for the pheasants.
We had to chop a mile or so off our walk in order to get back to Tugby in good time for Sunday lunch which was booked for one o'clock at "The Fox and Hounds". And what a delightful lunch it was too - all homemade with a medley of vegetables, luscious slices of shin of beef and excellent Yorkshire puddings that suggested the chef must have been trained in Yorkshire! When the landlord asked if we had enjoyed our meal I said, "That's the best Sunday dinner I have had in a long time" and I meant it.
Later we watched England's football team beat Andorra by four goals to nil and for tea we had wedges of Melton Mowbray pork pie with salad, olive bread and creamy Stilton cheese produced here in Leicestershire.
What a grand day Sunday September 5th was - a simple day to remember sweetly when life was good. With the weather set fair for the next three days, it seems we have accidentally picked a lovely week.
What a delightful holiday you are having! I am a little surprised at your comment reg. the Sunday dinner being the best you have had in a long time. Surely the ones you have described to us recently, cooked by yourself, were excellent nosh?
ReplyDeleteAs for the pheasants - yes, shooting animals for "sport" is cruel. But at least those pheasants have had a good life until that fatal encounter. Millions of animals who are raised for nothing else but their meat are forced to live their short lives under horrible circumstances. That is cruelty, and it is sustained by everyone who buys cheap meat at supermarkets.
Good final point Meike. As for the Sunday dinners, I was thinking about those I have eaten away from home in the last decade.
DeleteDid you go into the hall at Oakham and see all the horseshoes? It is nice reading about all the place names I am familiar with!
ReplyDeletePS. If you went as far as Melton you could definitely do Bradgate Park.About the same distance!
Distance-wise similar but to get to Bradgate Park I would have to re-negotiate the Leicester ring road Frances. We did see those amazing horseshoes at Oakham. Very curious.
DeleteYou have been lucky with the late burst of summer weather. That is a lovely photo of the swan with the reflections on the water.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that someone else can make Yorkshire puddings to beat your own!
Hang on a minute young lady! I did NOT say that!
DeleteIsn't it nice when days work out so well. As I discovered, there is nothing quite like an English Sunday pub roast, as I discovered. As well as being so good, they aren't expensive, be it in London or elsewhere. I don't understand the economics of pubs but clearly many have not survived. I wonder if anyone has counted the number of Fox and Hound pubs in England.
ReplyDeleteIf it is a clean kill, I don't have a huge problem with pheasant shooting but how often is it a clean kill. I simply do not understand the pleasure obtained by killing animals.
The church looks nice and welcoming with the door facing down to the path.
That pub name is suggestive of hunting and the killing of a beautiful and rather clever creature.
DeleteThe window photo is...dare I say it?
ReplyDeleteDivine.
Is "Ye Olde Pork Pie Shop" something that they actually named a place in the long ago? It sounds like such a cliche.
I hadn't thought of that Mary. You are right - it has got to be a cliché. The shop has been in existence since 1851. The pies taste divine!
DeleteI'm surprised Andorra even has a football team, being such a tiny, tiny country. Glad you got some walking in and YES, I'm so happy the weather is warmer! I love that top photo of the church window especially.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked that top picture Steve. Andorra has a population of 70,000.
DeleteSo much to see and and do and so little time. Good walks. Good food. Terrible movies!
ReplyDeleteYou are, as if often the case, so right Red.
DeleteI am glad that you're having such a wonderful vacation with your family! It won't be long and little Phoebe will be able to enjoy a ramble with Grandpa. And a pork pie too.
ReplyDeleteShe might have to push grandpa's wheelchair.
DeleteThe Brits did build some beautiful churches.
ReplyDeleteWe have a wealth of wonderful churches but many congregations have shrunk to almost nothing.
DeleteLovely photos all around! So I presume Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe sells food rather than hats?
ReplyDeleteHa-ha! I see what you mean Kelly. They were real pork pies - not hats!
DeleteWhat nectar did you drink in the Fox and Hounds YP?
ReplyDeleteWe had "Doom Bar" - not a local brew but well-kept.
DeleteSuch beautiful scenery and buildings! It sounds like you're enjoying good food and rambles. I am envious.
ReplyDeleteGood weather makes all of this better.
DeleteAll your photographs are lovely as usual.
ReplyDeleteYou are an excellent judge of photography Bob. Thank you.
DeleteThat church window is sublime
ReplyDeleteThanks John.
DeleteThe church window is beautiful in it's simplicity and serenity.
ReplyDeleteI have seen previews for the movie and if I can help it, I will not watch it at all. I would rather read a book than watch such dribble.
ReplyDelete