We were staying in Britain this half-term so there was no having to get up at a silly hour to catch a flight. Rather, a leisurely breakfast and into the car by 10am for the drive to Oxfordshire. Of course we still had the usual squabbles about which route to take. As Dougie doesn’t like the Corby-Kettering-Northampton route, we chose a new one via Bedford and Milton Keynes, though as our SatNav lady obviously prefers to travel via Northampton, she was having none of it. So it was me and the map.
Even though I say it myself, I was spot on with my navigation. There was only one hiccup when at a T-junction Dougie asked me if it was right or left. I said yes, it was right and said the name of the the village on the sign, “Aynho”. At which point he stopped the car and turned to me,
“So which way then?”
“I’ve just told you! Right”.
“But then you said, ay…no. So is it left then?”
“No, it’s right! I said ‘Aynho'”
“There you go again, AY…NO”
“NO….IT’S BLOODY AYNHO. THE VILLAGE. ON THE SIGN. LOOK”
We took a couple of detours: a lovely lunch…in Tesco car park off a roundabout in Milton Keynes (classy) and a quick stop at the neolithic stone circles, the Rollright Stones, which I thought would appeal to everyone. The King’s Men stone circle is set in a wooded clearing; across the road is a larger solitary King stone, while a short walk away is a group of leaning stones (the Whispering Knights). According to legend, a king left his troops while a group of knights were plotting treason. He encountered a witch who promised him, “Seven long strides shalt thou take And if Long Compton thou canst see, King of England thou shalt be.” The king thought this an easy task but hadn’t realised the hillside would obstruct his view, whereupon the witch turned him and his men to stone.
It began to rain as we were leaving, which all added to the spookiness of the experience. Back in the car and it wasn’t long before we reached our hotel, the quite beautiful Old Swan and Minster Mill near Witney. Our rooms were called ‘cosy’ which was quite apt as they were small, but perfectly formed! The rooms were together, reached by a lockable door to our own separate teeny corridor. Having dumped the bags (or rather, me dump the bags, Dougie carefully hang everything up) we set off for an explore and found a gorgeous lounge, complete with a crackling log fire. The boys decided to have a game of snooker in the minstrel’s gallery above. I told Rory what the gallery was for and he looked at me with a vacant expression.
“The minstrels played here’, I explained.
“Who are they, then? Some 70s group?”
It all looks wonderfully cozy – exactly what I would expect a place in the Cotswolds to look like, despite the communication glitch en route. And actually…weren't there some 60s or 70s groups with 'Minstrels' in their names? Now, of course, they'd have to be 'Mnztrlzz' or at the very least, 'Dead Minstrels'….
One of my old teachers wrote a book about the Rollwright Stones but I can't for the life of me remember the title. Mr Price he was called… and as Welsh as cheese on toast.
Brings back memories. I lived in Cheltenham for a year and worked at the Gloucestershire Echo (for my sins, really, worst year of my life). But these lovely places brings back great memories, though are you finding the wee hills tricky for cycling?
Who the heck says "Ay, no?"
@Ms Caroline – I did wonder about the Black and White minstrels but try telling that bizarre musical act to a 15 year old.
@Steve – I'll have to look him up. Mr Price and his Stones.
@About last weekend – Oh you will know this area very well. Cycling?No fear – driving and walking. I'd rather have the flower-festooned stationary one in front of the hotel.
@Expat Mum – me, apparently. I said 'ay' as in 'hay' (not 'aye' as in 'why' if that's what you're thinking?)
I'm so impressed that you can persuade a teenage boy to accompany you on a weekend away! I'm sure mine would refuse to come, then stay at home and have multiple parties, wrecking the joint!
What fun! Lunch in a carpark and squabbling en route! Brings back memories.
Still, the journey was worth it for the destination. What a lovely looking cosy place. Did you suggest to Rory that you re-enact the minstrels gallery act? That would have embarrassed him nicely. 🙂
I've added the stones to my list of 'places to go/things to see'..so thanks for that…and the hotel looks great.
@curry queen – I think it must be because he's an only child that he's always gone everywhere with us. He's so bloomin' lazy, he'd never cope on his own so coming with us and getting a good feed every day is a decent option for him!!
@Sarah – We always start a journey promising not to argue but it hardly lasts the first ten miles!
Yes, Rory would have been mortified if I'd entertained him from the gallery – I'm not even allowed to hum in the car.
@Libby – I love little places like that, especially with a story attached.