Day Six – Rain, Birds, Junk, and Music

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We awoke to steady rain that was supposed to last all day, so we threw a wash in the washer/dryer expecting a washout day.  Lo & behold, at 10:00, out came the sun.  So we jumped in the car and headed to picturesque nearby Bourton-on-the Water, just down the road from Bourton-on-the-Hill.  B-o-t-W is a quaint little town with a river (stream, really) running through it.  Elaine fell in love with the place.  It has touristy things to do (i.e., spend money on).  We visited Birdland (500 varieties of birds) and the Model Village (a model of Bourton itself).  Both were fun and worth a short bit of time.  Think about this: the model village is a modal of the town, so it contains a modal of the model village.  Should you be able to shrink down and visit the model of the model, supposedly you would find a model of the model of the model.  And . . . well, you get the idea.  We skipped the Model Railway and the Automobile Museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had lunch at the Knightsbridge Arms Pub – steak and ale pie for me, a sandwich and chips for Elaine.  With beers, of course.  It sufficed.

 

Then it was a short drive to yet another National Trust property, Snowshill Manor.  Like most NT places, it dates back to before the USA existed.

“A house like no other, Snowshill Manor is neither a museum or a home, and it’s probably one of the most unique place you will ever visit.  Bought in 1919 by Charles Wade, he restored and renovated it for just one purpose – to house his wonderful and wondrous collection, which was his lifelong passion and joy.”

The “collections” (think treasures , junk, overkill, hoarder, etc. – depends on your point of view) are almost totally British – no international pretenses for Charley.  It includes suits of armor, bicycles, spinning wheels, clocks, toys, and about anything else you can think of.  If Elaine had lived there during the time, she would have had a field day throwing things away. (“Why are you keeping that???”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got a little soaked during a shower walking back to the car, and I croaked my head on a low doorway (OUCH! – no concussion protocol required).  Dinner was bread, cheese, apple, pate, and wine from the local Campden French bakery.  After dinner we attended a chamber music performance by the Nash Ensemble of London, an event of the annual Chipping Campden Music Festival held in  St. James Church (Anglican).  We had front row seats purchased way back before Christmas, and I could have turned the pages of the music for the clarinetist.  We had nice chats with our neighbors before the performance and during the intermission.  The music was fine: