19th - 23rd July

19th July - Warwick Castle

Left Shustoke at about 9.30 all ready for a big day at Warwick castle. Incredibly, the temperature is set to rise to 32 degrees today!

The Castle was taken over in 1978 by the Tussauds Group which explains the excellent quality of the figures on display which really help to bring the castle to life.

20th July, Warwick Castle to Bucket Lock Cottage

 yay, presents!

birthday girl

Breakfast in the banquet hall

in the horrible histories maze

Bowman display

practising for the jousting next month

After watching the trebuchet fire one last time, this time from on top of the mound, we pack up ready to move to our next, much anticipated house sit.

First job of course is to whip up a birthday cake. Our generous hosts and new friends have left us a gorgeous bunch of lillies as well as a gift for Holly, so happily munching chocolate she spends an hour out on the lock gate doing some colouring and making good friends with April, our new dog for the next 3 weeks.

Once we are settled we take April for a walk along the tow path.  We do not get more than a km or so before stopping to chat with a couple moored in the shade.  One thing leads to another, and after about 1/2 an hour the kids get bored and set off for home.  After another 1/2 hour I decide I should go and check on them but I don't leave empty handed as our new friends press a bottle of scrumpy cider and some kind of beer on to us to try. Returning home I find the kids and April happily manning the lock and Aaron doesn't re-appear for yet another hour or so.

Just as we have finished dinner our new friends Carl and Elizabeth come puttering along through the lock, so we invite them in for some cake and a drink in the garden.

21st July - at home at Bucket Lock

Woke up in our amazing cottage on the lock with another sunny, warm morning.  Took my coffee outside, but couldn't decide where to sit. Ended up oustide by the lock, chatting to those who came by.
After breakfast we decided to have a short walk to start the day  and wandered about 1 km before stopping to help someone on a lock.  Holly took a huge tumble ending up with bruises and scrapes on both arms and legs and a big purple lump instantly appearing on her elbow.  Luckily nothing seems to be broken, so after getting her patched up with plasters we make our way home again.
After some recovery time while I sort out the school work bag, I put the kids back to work, then off to the supermarket to get in some supplies.

3 hours later, the work is done and the fridge is stocked, so at 4ish we set off again for a proper walk.  6km this time, passing lots of boats including a flotilla of some sort of school trip, boats full of teens in life jackets making their way along the canal.  Luckily no injuries this time and we make it hone in time to start dinner, and just before the gentle rain starts to fall.

22nd July Bucket Lock Cottage
Early morning Bucket Lock

stayed home, did school work, mowed, walked.


Saturday 23rd July Stratford on Avon

Today we thought we would have a look around the local area and maybe check out some markets.  We set off for a big market near Stratford, but it turned out to be very much like Paddy's markets at home, so we abandoned it very quickly and drove into Stratford instead.
It is busy here on a warm Saturday morning, crowds everywhere around the marina and wandering the streets.

Theatre

Shakespears birthplace