Day 192 - A fond farewell to Moreton-in-Marsh

Our home away from home, 14 Old Market Way in Moreton in Marsh --  our base for exploring England. During our stay we've had many memorable moments -- long walks in the surrounding hills, Sunday roasts, some good and not so good films at the Regal in Evesham, visits from both Rebecca and Alex, from my brother Stuart, and our friends Jane and Keith, Jane and Trevor, and Elaine too. We've visited magnificent cathedrals in Worcester, Hereford and Winchester -- the latter during its outstanding Christmas market -- and gone for quick jaunts into Oxford for cinema, or shopping, or hair dressers.

We watched the leaves turn golden and fly away, and then realized how green the ivy remained. Gathered with our neighbours to watch fireworks light up the sky on Guy Fawkes Day, spent Remembrance Day planting poppies and crosses on the graves of Canadian airmen who lost their lives when stationed here during the war, and experienced the Christmas lighting festivities with the community we really felt we had become part of.

Early mornings after two major snowfalls had us running through the snow as the town lay wrapped up against the weather, only to find ourselves later in the local pubs with everyone else and their trusty canine companions. The coming of English spring, the crocuses, daffodils, tulips and lambs in the fields. And throughout our various times here, the last-minute walks to the local Budgens to pick up the BBQ chicken for half price or a quick jog across the High Street to Tesco to get cream for our morning coffee and milk for our cereal.

The local library came to my rescue when I needed to use large amounts of internet bandwidth or needed printed documents. Walker's Butchers provided their exceptional selection of meats and quality service. The Tuesday market and our fruit and veg shopping --  and even the purchase of some minor electrical item or kitchen utensil. The Bell Inn, my pub of choice, and the Black Bear, my other pub of choice. The two service managers at the train station, both of whom handled our online ticket printing needs with patience and humour.

The elevated Stow-in-the-Wold with its centre square and its Huffkins, the bakery extraordinaire. Bourton-on-the-Water with the canal running through it and the stone bridges to walk over. Broadway and its tree-lined High Street with the imposing Cotswold escarpment hovering over the town. Bourton-on-the-Hill and their monthly rural cinema in the old school house with the welcoming group of cinephiles enjoying wine and hot dogs. Kingham and its fine dining pubs and it's neighbour, Churchill and the Chequers Pub with undoubtedly the best Sunday roast I have ever eaten (aside from Angela's). And the Fosseway Garden Centre restaurant I referred to yesterday with their amazing staff.

Finally, our usual walking circuit around town that Angela and I traversed, generally at night, on those days we could not get out for a long hike. All of these memories will last us our lifetime together. They will be cherished.

I know there are other things I have failed to mention here and hopefully we will always have our blog to remind us of all that we have seen, felt and loved.

Today I dedicate this blog to all the people of Moreton in Marsh who made those months so memorable and to bid them a fond farewell. 

But......to paraphrase a famous line by a classic actor? from a classic film...."We'll be back!"