LOST IN CHESHIRE

There was to be no mistake this time with a Cheshire ramble. Armed with a 2.5 inch to the mile ordnance survey map and a copy of Best Tea Shop Walks in Cheshire giving a detailed description of the ramble, (or was that a rambling description of the detail) we embarked on Walk 18 Prestbury. The first 50% was negotiated extremely well, even though at times we thought we were walking through people's front gardens. This part of the walk consumed 14 of the 16 paragraphs in "Best Walks". The second half of the walk was described as "Pass along the barn to another stile which provides access to Motram Wood. The path through this is clear and easy to follow". WE POLITELY BEG TO DIFFER.
In the final two paragraphs there was no description of a huge, ney an enormous, golf course packed with golfers replaying the British Open, or of the need to traverse at least four fairways. Fortunately while marooned halfway down the 18th and with a dog on lead Kerry eventually found the solution. She suggested that we wait for a line of geese to pass by and then just follow them. Luckily we did not have to wait long since from out of the long grass emerge a line of geese which led us to the grand Club house (see photographs - Gary I am sure you will be interested in the guides and club accommodation) and introduced us to the Chef. The Chef was the only person we could engage who knew that the path round to the toilets was actually part of the Penine Way or something sounding similar. With renewed hope we set off for the toilets and eventually after another short detour round the thirteenth green we were back on track for Prestbury, ending the ramble with only two bogies and a string of large birdies.

Having some spare time on our hands this week, due to the prevalence of rain, we have been busy re-decorating the dining room at 265 Oxford Road. We have also added a major water feature to the garden (See photographs, -- Dave and Val we hope you approve).

During a visit to Chatsworth House Kerry suddenly decided that the surroundings felt familiar and that she must be descended from Royal blood. Therefore we have embarked on a search for potential ancestors. The attached photograph shows some promising signs.







We are taking our house-sitting seriously. The cheetah prowling the garden has been captured and domesticated and Bella the spaniel has been mountaineering.