A day with Granny and an afternoon on the farm

This week has been a case of lying low while Lucy, Joe and I have had colds. I have stayed at home a lot, sat around and rested more than I have in months. It's done me the power of good, and by Friday I was feeling like a new woman after weeks of being unwell. The shingles I have had is so much better and the pain almost gone. Hurrah!

Thursday we had nice weather so headed out to explore a farm shop near Flitwick, the next town from us. I had found a flyer about it, saw that it had some animals and a play area. It was a nice drive to get there down winding country lanes with hedgerows either side laden with fruit and wildlife. I missed hedgerows in America. Call me mad but I did. Anyway, the farm and shop were a little like stepping into a bygone era where Ford Focuses and women drivers were a novelty. As we pulled down the track and into the farmyard the farmers gave us a good 'ooo arrrr' kind of stare.

There were a bunch of homemade hutches full of lovely healthy looking rabbits, all sorts of different kinds of chickens and some peacocks and hens. Lucy loved it all. The farm shop was stacked with fresh fruit and veg and a pile of pumpkins that could be used to build a decent home for three. The farmers wife in the shop was a darling - looked a state but was lovely to talk to. She looked like Bette Lynch ('Google Image' her) and was enchanted with Lucy who was rather taken with her two black labradors, a staple on any English farmyard.

We had a lovely chat with our friends Mary Kay and Bob on Skype when we got home. Lucy loved seeing them on the webcam and has been asking to visit them ever since. I wish we could.

Lucy and her Tigger, new wellies and new hat

(yes it was woolly hat weather this week already)

Friday was a real treat. We took a last minute trip up to Kilsby to visit Mum/Granny, as she has Fridays off and had a free day. As the weather was rainy and windy, it was even more perfect a choice of days to get together. We spent all day cosy in the sitting room playing and doing puzzles, drinking tea and chatting. Lucy had a nap in the cot upstairs so Mum and I had a chance to chat without interruption and plan her big 60th birthday party which is coming up in November. It was so nice to be able to drive up and see her within a day. Lucy and her are getting to know each other and Lucy is clearly very fond of her and getting regular contact makes her feel evermore comfortable in her company.