That Was The (festive) Week That Was

It all started on a mild sunny Christmas Eve. Ideal for a walk down the Sharpness Canal tow path..100 yards from the car and the heavens turned pitch black and opened. A torrential downpour. The saving grace - apart from the shelter of the boathouse - was that with the sun behind it there was a spectacular double rainbow.

Jean arrived in the evening from the flooded north. After present opening there was a pleasant meal at the Whittle. 




Then Boxing Day we were off on retreat to the amazing Old Beams in Devon

 After somewhat of a detour we were joined on the Monday by Marion.

Trips to the surrounding countryside took in:

Barnstaple and the Long Bridge

Ilfracombe - home of Damien Hurst's Verity

Torrington and the Leper Fields














Iddesleigh and the War Horse Valley





















Bideford and Westward Ho

Finishing with a jaunt along the somewhat damp Tarka Trail that ran alongside Old Beams.

Then back to Gloucester to bring in the New Year with champers, 

fireworks and a Hootenanny