Wednesday, May 18th, 2016

The joys of Spring are now upon us - we had hoped in our month-long return to Richmond, Mass to have experienced the early pleasures of April, but instead we got snow, cold winds and mostly freezing temperatures! Disappointing but we'll try again in early September after our now annual pilgrimage to Washington State. 

Meanwhile, this green and pleasant land is indeed living up to its billing. We always enjoy the rich countryside around us here in the Cotswolds, not the least these harsh-sounding but smile-engendering Rape Seed fields:

Rape Seed fields, just outside Chipping Campden

It seems to me that the fields are generating a sun-light all of their own, and bring smiles to our faces. 

As most of you know, the British were renowned for building majestic stately homes, and there are literally hundreds of them dotted throughout the British Isles. They were also famous - and possibly still are! - for their eccentricity, demonstrated not the least by numerous 'Follies', usually built on the lands of some stately pile. There's one a mere 6 miles from us, in the outskirts of Broadway. In fact, it is now called the Broadway Folly (sounds like a musical, doesn't it?!):

The Broadway Folly

Looks like a castle, doesn't it? In fact, it's tiny, but has 3 distinct floors, and a splendid roof terrace with magnificent views across the Cotswolds. There's a William Morris floor, dedicated to the Arts & Crafts genius. Apparently, he stayed in the folly a few times, when the owner, an acquaintance of his, let out rooms in the Folly to guests. This stately B & B received a poor review from Morris, however!

It was also used as a spotter station during the 2nd World War, where the Royal Observers Corps looked out for German fighters and bombers. Today, it is set up as an historical site, with the usual mandatory memento shop (actually in the Folly itself - a miracle of minimalism!) and adjoining tea-shop. I truly think it would be considered so un-British to not have a tea-shop on premises like these that police arrests might be made!

I had hoped to remove the tease I left in the last post, but, disappointingly, I cannot......yet! More anon in a week or so. 

TTFN