April fools day

She had to do it didn't she. All last night dad was whittling about whether to wear his shorts today, so when we came back from my morning constitutional in the freezing fog, she told him it was lovely and mild and just the day for shorts......April fool.

Of course it came back to bite her, because later on the sun came out and it has been gloriously warm. So, at lunch time she changed into her shorts. Now this is pretty dodgy territory. When these two get their shorts on, they metamorphose into 8 year olds from an Enid Blyton novel. She rattles on about lashings of ginger beer and he gets his catapult out - it's SO embarrassing!

We had spent the night at The Compass Inn at Tormarton, where we were well cared for, and even did a load of washing (happy mum!) and they very kindly made a contribution to funds. Thank you.

Off we trotted on our first dalliance with the Cotswold Way, and it has been beautiful. We've done villages (including a couple of Sodburys), fields, monuments (Somerset & Tyndale) and very little road work - so much easier on the paws you know.

Mid morning, we were trotting across open countryside when we were stopped by a nice gentleman called Vic, who was looking for his wife, his dog Stanley and 2 friends. We engaged in conversation (as you do) and it turned out he came from the same village in Suffolk as a friend of mum's (Caroline) and he knew her. What a very small world we live in. Anyway, he gave us a donation for H4H which was very kind - thanks Vic.

Of course, mum has got the Cotswold Way signs between her teeth, and every time she sees one she wants to go gallivanting after it. This is faith misplaced on so many levels; sometimes she wants to go back the way we've come, sometimes she wants to follow it when dad is doing one of his welcome
diversions, and sometimes she wants to follow one of the circular walks which branch off it. Dad says we need to watch her, otherwise she'll be chasing off after any old wagon with the word 'Cotswold' down the side!

Shortly before reaching North Nibley, our destination for the night, we were walking through some woods and came across a pair of 4 year old twins with their grandfather (off the lead). It turns out, he trains racehorses, and gave us a nice little tip for Taunton next week. I thought we might have a little flutter with my pocket money (saved quite a bit because they've told me this is an all expenses paid trip for me - thanks Burns), and we can put any winnings in the pot.

Painswick tomorrow, another long one.

Keep spreading the word.

M
xx