July 05 +06, Moreton in Marsh: Arboretum, Falconry, and Sezincote

It was cold today, threatening rain, raining, then threatening rain, then warm, then cold, a cycle which repeated like a bad music loop.  This is how cold it was at 6:00 a.m.:  I wore a Uniqlo Heatech tank top, a Tshirt, a Uniqlo lightweight hoodie, a wind shirt, an Anji lightweight running jacket, another wind shirt, neck gator, raincoat, and gloves.  Only then was it safe to go outside. However, the changing conditions of the day demanded much doffing and donning of combinations of these garments.

So garbed, though the other two were content with just wearing a hoody—we set off, all three, after much discussion of the route we should take—to the Batsford Arboretum.  

Other than hoping that we might run into these critters:

which we did not, I have nothing educational, entertaining, or beautiful to add to Alex and Alex's account of our visit to the  Arboretum and Falconry   Truly, I do not.  AND they will cover our walk and splendid visit to Sezincote, as well.

Let me just add here that we did all all agree on Sezincote.  For example, Alex and Alex would not have enjoyed spending a night there, not that you can, but I would have loved to!  There were such splendid fabrics and colors and views out the windows.  Both the house—the rooms we got to see, that is— and garden IMO were so elegant and, well, elegant!   But they pointed out that probably the outlets for charging electronics were wanting.  And they focused on bits of peeling paint.  We did not see things the same way....clearly!  We did agree 100% that the tour was an utter bore. One  really doesn't care about the ancestors in the portraits, but knowing if they had bathrooms, or how they heated the place (fireplaces seemed not to be in sight) now that would have been interesting.   

When we returned to Moreton, we strode past the shops.  The best was this one:

and they had some REALLY old luggage, total junk, and REALLY old fishing tackle, and mounted fish and stuff.

This stuffed fox was being hauled in just as we arrived:

The shop was manned, yes, three men = manned who were real jokesters.  Alex coveted a helmet as in like medieval, oh, and they ship free anywhere in the world, but the price tag was either £5000 or $5000 so he forwent the souvenir.

We all agreed that this was the best shop ever!  Then we got take-out from the excellent Indian restaurant where we had dined the night before, and again we agreed that the take-out was somewhat inferior.  But we managed to make it disappear anyway.

This was our last day together. I will miss Alex:

and Alex:

as I continue the adventure, now alone.