August 30, 2016. Trip to Aylesbury

LOCATION:  Housesitting in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, England

WEATHER:  Another beautiful day. Sunny. Highs upper 70s

Today we took a 15-minute bus ride to Aylesbury, a fairly large town.  We walked through the historic section where a farmers' market was taking place.  We stumbled upon the Roald Dahl Museum on a back street.  He was born here.  How poignant that we were here today, as everyone is remembering actor Gene Wilder, of Willy Wonka fame, who just died.

We found the canal basin with several longboats moored. Just in one week, we will be living on one!

We had lunch in a Greek restaurant.  All good, but afterwards when we were back home, we realized that the Visa charge was wrong...one decimal in the wrong place......instead of 15.1 pounds ($19 USD), it was 151 pounds ($190).  We have  to return to the restaurant to get it straightened out.  

Back home, I gave the dogs a run.  This is the natural area behind our house with Brook running freely....

 The nature area leads to the village park, well-equipped with a children's playground  and fitness stations.

George grilled dinner on a perfect summer evening.

DINNER:  American theme.....grilled hamburgers and potato salad.  One food I miss from the USA is a dill pickle.  We have found a few "gherkins" here and in Australia, but they just aren't the same.  

August 29, 2016. Soaking up Whitchurch

ILOCATION:  Housesitting in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, England

WEATHER:  Beautiful. Sunny. Highs in 70s

Today is a bank holiday.  I don't think it is any special celebration, just an end-of-the-summer 3-day weekend.  Being a bank holiday, bus service was quite limited again, so we stayed in Whitchurch.

We walked around the village.

I assume Whitchurch got its name from its whitish church?

I just can't get enough of the thatched roof houses. 

Many of the houses are really old...

This one, called The Old Courthouse, has an interesting door.

We had lunch in the village pub, the White Swan.

The people are very friendly.  the staff remembered us from our first visit.

After lunch, we walked around town some more.  This collection of buildings,  The Firs, was called Churchill's "Toy Shop" during the war as inventors worked here trying to create gadgets to win the war.

On the dogs' afternoon walk in the park, I met a garrulous 8-year-old boy.  He talked non-stop in a darling little-boy English accent, as he walked the dogs with me.

DINNER:  Frittata.   

August 28, 2016. Quiet day with the dogs and chickens

LOCATION:  Housesitting in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, England

WEATHER:  Mostly cloudy.  Rain in PM.  Highs in 60s

Today, Sunday, the buses have very limited service, so we stayed home.

George is in charge of the chickens.  He collects 3-4 eggs a day.

 

 The dogs seemed antsy today, so I took them for 3 walks throughout the day.

The homeowners are trying to train the puppy to be a bird dog for hunting.  George practiced some commands with them.

In the late afternoon, between rain showers, we walked about a mile to the next village's pub.  As with many villages, the pub is really the only business in town.  It is another cute pub.

We had eaten there in the beautiful back area the first night we arrived with the homeowners.

DINNER:  Pasta with leftover chicken.  

August 27, 2016. National Dog Day

LOCATION:  Housesitting in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire,England 

WEATHER: Patchy rain, including thunderstorms in the pm.  Highs in 60s

I saw on Facebook that today is National Dog Day.  On this housesitting assignment, we are taking care of 3 spaniels.  

Mocha, the next to the oldest,  is a cocker spaniel mix.  Easy to see how he got his name.....

Murray is the oldest, a springer spaniel mix.

Brook is a very energetic springer spaniel.  This photo catches him in a rare quiet moment....

They have a nice backyard to play in as well as a huge field and park next door for walks.

After a morning run in the field with the dogs, we took off for Buckingham which someone had recommended.  It is an old market town, and today was actually market day.  We walked around the town, visiting the old prison which is now the visitors center.

We popped into the pub when it started raining.  It seemed like the entire town was there, everyone watching the football (soccer) game.  

We have started seeing signs like this one in front of the pub.  Hard to think about Christmas already!

We had an all-day bus pass so we rode around a bit appreciating the beautiful countryside scenery.  

Back home, George used the BBQ to grill the kabobs we had bought at the butcher the other day.  Side was rice  and cucumbers in Greek yogurt.  

August 26, 2016. Day trip to Winslow.

LOCATION:  Housesitting in Whitchurch, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England

WEATHER:  Beautiful.  Sunny.  Highs in 70s

In this rural part of England, the old-style custom of doorstep milk delivery still exists.  Last night we left our empty milk bottles on the front doorstep and this morning, the milkman delivered our order.  Brilliant!

Today's destination was Winslow, an old market town about 8 miles away.  We figured out the bus and caught it near our house.  We could never do this housesitting  in the USA without a car, due to lousy American public transportation.  Here, however, we get along fine with buses and trains, even in a small town like Whitchurch.

We found two cute pubs.  Both date from the 1400s.  The first one, The George, has a wide selection of beers, including American IPAs, and friendly people.

We chatted with the bartender and a customer.  We had a lively discussion about politics, both American and British.  

Across the street is another pub, this one advertising the best steak pies in England.

With that proclamation, we of course had to order a pie.  We split their award-winning Stilton and steak pie and sat next by the cozy fireplace.

The pie was indeed delicious.  Crispy crust, served with mashed potatoes, gravy and peas.

Winslow has a small grocery store, so we did a bit of shopping and returned on the bus.  

After another walk with the dogs, we enjoyed the evening, another night of Vicar of Dibley programs on BBC.  

DI NNER:  A huge stuffed zucchini, called courgette here.  Stuffed with a mixture of hamburger (mince), rice, onion, and grated cheese.

August 25, 2016. A trip to the butcher shop

LOCATION :  Housesitting in Whitchurch, near Aylesbury, Buckinghsmshire, England

WEATHER:  Cooler.  Highs about 80.  Rain in the PM

We walked into the village, admiring the old houses.  Many have names like "Old Firehouse", "Rose Cottage", "Old Butcher Shop", and this one called "Spider's Web".....

We walked through the village, then about a mile in the country to this farm shop/bakery that our homeowners had told us about.  The farmer/owner was grooming his cow for an upcoming country fair.

The butcher shop is lovely.

Inside, the butchers were hard and work

There are ribbons all over the walls showing the many awards they have received.  The meats looked delicious.

They also have many home-made delicacies like pates, savory pies, scotch eggs,mane something called faggots.  I looked it up, and faggots are a kind of leftover pork mixture.  

The people in the shop are super friendly, curious about our accents and why we would be in this country shop.  We definitely will return.

On the way home, George needed the loo, so we stopped in the village pub and had a drink (and a wee).  

We relaxed with the dogs during the afternoon rain, then took them to the park for a run.

DINNER:  George grilled some of the goodies we bought at the butcher's shop.....chicken and Chinese spare ribs. I threw on a courgette (zucchini) for good measure.

Then, happiness.....BBC showed 3 episodes of "Vicar of Dibley".  It was filmed in a village near here.  I'd love to visit it, but can't figure out a way to get there by bus.  

 

August 24, 2016. First day in Whitchurch

ULOCATION:  Housesitting in Whitchurch, near Aylesbury, Buckinghsmshire, England

WEATHER:  Hot and sunny. Highs in 90s

The homeowners got an early start, heading for 10 days in the Cayman Islands.  

We are taking care of 3 spaniels.  The springer spaniel puppy has lots of energy and needs two walks a day to work off some of the excess.  We left the two older dogs at home and took Brook, the puppy for a long walk into the village.  Another day I will take my camera to take photos of the charming thatched roof houses.  

One of the older dogs, Murray, just started a strange cough.  The homeowners arranged for a neighbor to take him to the vet in the pm.  He diagnosed kennel cough.  We will watch him, hoping for a quick recovery, while checking to make sure the others don't get it.  They are all in good spirits.  In the heat of the afternoon, we all (dogs and humans) just rested.  

Once it cooled off a bit, we took all 3 dogs for their daily romp through the adjacent park.  

The homeowners had told us that a fish & chip truck comes each Wednesday to the neighborhood.  So, at 6:30, we listened for his bell, and went outside to buy dinner.  It is just like the ice cream trucks at home.

It was nice not cooking on this hot evening.  

August 23, 2016. To our next assignment / adventure!

LOCATION:  Housesitting near Aylesbury, Buckinghsmshire, England

WEATHER:  Hot and sunny. Highs in 80s

We had a relaxing morning at our housesit near Stonehouse.  The owner let us tag along with him to an appointment in another town, Stroud.  We walked around, looking at the cute shops and the canal  that volunteers are restoring.

Then, to the train station.  Goodbye to Stonehouse....it has been lovely.

We had a one-hour train ride to Oxford, then caught a bus to Aylesbury.  Aylesbury is only about 30 miles from Oxford, but the bus ride was 1.5 hours, as we stopped in many small villages along the way.

Our homeowner picked us up and brought us to our new assignment.  We are in a hamlet called Whitchurch, about 15 miles from Aylesbury.  

The countryside is rolling wheat fields,  it reminds me a bit of southern Minnesota.  Just beautiful.  The farmers are starting the harvest.  The hamlet is quaint, comprised of about 30 houses, a gas station and pub.

Our assignment here is to take care of 3 spaniels.  Two are older and one us a rambunctious puppy.  We also will tend to 4 chickens.  

The homeowner oriented us, with an afternoon walk and feeding.  

We went to a pub in another hamlet and sat outside for dinner.  It was just a perfect summer evening.  George had smoked haddock, and I had a pate appetizer.  On the way home, we stopped at the pub in Whitchurch to meet some of their friends.  It is a very friendly environment. 

 

August 22, 2016. Are we in Tahiti or England?

LOCATION:  Housesitting near Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England

WEATHER:  Very nice.  High around 70

It is hard to believe we are in western England.  It looks like we are in the South Pacific!   We enjoyed the weather and outdoor areas.

Shadow loves hanging out with George

The gazebo is a nice place for a coffee.

The homeowners returned in the afternoon.  

For dinner, they took us to a cute pub for dinner.

I had some mushrooms in a Stilton sauce.  George had a scrumptious Yorkshire pudding.  Wonderful evening chatting in the cozy pub.  

August 21, 2016. A day trip to Gloucester

LOCATION:  Housesitting near Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England 

WEATHER:  Partly sunny. High about 60

We caught the bus just down the lane into the city of Gloucester.  It is bigger than I had thought.  They have revived the docks area into nice shops and restaurants, and converted many of the old warehouses into condos.  All very upscale.

We strolled around the city.  Lots of old buildings including this pub from the 1500s.

Then, back home for lunch.  More veg......Sautéed zucchini with Asian noodles.  

In the afternoon, I cooked......a fish pie for the homeowners' return, gazpacho, zucchini fritters.  

The sun came out and we did PM chores, including harvesting more veg. The onions are terrific....

The veg garden is next to a cow pasture.  Whenever we go out to the garden, the cows gallop over, expecting us to feed them.  

More zucchini!

Chef daughter Meredith would love these zucchini flowers.  She stuffs them with goat cheese and fries them.  A real treat!

Today's pick.....another 8 or so!  

DINNER:  The rest of the fresh tagliatelle in  a cream sauce with zucchini and shelled beans.  Yummy.