UK Trip Day 2 Saffron Walden

First full day here

How good is Temazepam? Barb woke up after a full night of restful sleep. She's good to go! John seemed to snooze quite peacefully too so we both feel up to enjoying our first full day back in the UK.

Barb and doggy love-in

First priority of the morning after breakfast and a wash was to walk the dogs. Susan and Barb loaded the dogs into the back of Susan's Mini - Daisy has to use a ramp because of her arthritis - and we drove down to the local common which is bordered by a wheat field. As soon as the hatch was opened both dogs knew just what to do. They leapt out and raced off in the direction of the wheat field. No sign of Daisy's arthritis now!

Why jump when there's a helping hand for your bottom?

I wandered lonely as a ...

The common with allotments in the background

Welcome to Great Chesterford!

Barb was a bit worried that they were both off leash and neither she nor Susan were in any fit state to give chase. Susan was completely unconcerned. This is their usual routine: they lollop through the wheat field chasing bunnies or birds and all you can see is an occasional head or tail emerging above the wheat to alert you to their location. After a while of this free play Susan calls them and they come running for the next leg of their trip. This time it's round the common and into the ditch to romp and roll with other doggie friends. Susan then retires to an outdoor bench seat to watch them and perhaps chat to other local dog owners, and then when she calls they come running to the car for the ride home. Good dogs!

 

On our way home we called into the village shop which used to be a post office and general store but is now refurbished to be a rather good quality bakery and deli. We went for the Eccles fruit cakes. John's cousin Roger had declared them to be the best Eccles cakes in the country on his last trip here. He just might be right(!) although we might need to taste more widely to compare and contrast.

Eccles cakes

Eccles cakes 'R' Us!

The bakery and source of the best Eccles cakes in the country (allegedly)

After elevenses we headed into Saffron Walden, about five minutes away by car, so that we could pick up UK sim cards for our phones and get some groceries at Waitrose. We were rather delighted to get the sim cards for the princely sum of fifteen pounds each. This is valid for 30days and 7 GB of data included as well as texts and local calls. We are connected to the world once more!

John and his new cash card in Saffron Walden

Barb. A centuries old pub in the background - one of many

A Church - Saffron Walden

Barb liked this - the back streets of Saffron Walden

John was ecstatic to find Bramley apples which he claims are the very BEST for making apple pies (and something which tropical Queensland sadly lacks). He set to in Susan's kitchen to rustle up a pie to accompany the roast chicken dinner while Susan and Barb inspected the studio apartment above Susan's garage, which she'd like to redecorate with an eye to having a live-in part-time housekeeper. This would be a great boon for her as her arthritis is making it harder to do the heavy housework and vaving someone who could also perhaps walk the dogs when needed would also benefit. It would be a fairly simple renovation project - new small bathroom and kitchen, paint throughout, new light fixtures and a door at the top of the stairwell. Done!

 

Susan's garage and studio apartment - from inside the pub across the road

That night after a delicious meal - the apple pie got a thumbs up - Susan and Barb retired to the sitting room to watch Coronation Street, while the boys had an early night. Geoffrey has day surgery and an early start tomorrow for the hospital. John was just tired from having no siesta. (The trials I have to endure!)