We left Mayfield in bright sunshine on 1 January. Our plans were to travel south-west to Paignton in easy stages, spending time en route with my cousins Alison and Jane. The first day involved only a few hours' drive across some lovely landscape. The first leg across Staffordshire to the motorway was particularly beautiful in the bright morning light, and although the M6 is nothing to write home about, once we'd passed Birmingham on the M5 we could enjoy the countryside again with the Malvern Hills, our destination, in the distance.
To reach them we had to cross the Severn, and were shocked to see the floods at close quarters as we drove on a causeway over sheets of water a mile wide, the course of the river marked only by some moored boats. Later from the hilltops we could see the flooded river very clearly. After a little lunch in Great Malvern on Wednesday (eating too well is a frequent risk on this trip!) we looked round the Priory which is lovely, norman arches surmounted by a fine high gothic nave with lots of large stained glass windows and a beautiful decorated ceiling. Apart from the stained glass and celebrated mediaeval wall tiles in the chancel, I was most attracted by the misericords. The front rows of the choir stalls on both sides have marvellous wooden carvins of people and animals - I've included pictures of many in the
photo gallery. The little town itself is charming, tucked under the towering hills but dark in the afternoon in winter because the sun sets early over the hilltop to the west.
Our visits to Alison and David, who have been in their Malvern house around 7 months, and then to Jane in Newent, where we've been many times in the past, were great. We had warm welcomes, comfortable stays, Evie was also welcomed, and we saw a little of the surrounding country in the improving weather - although still often cloudy, it is milder and there have been good spells of sunshine. We had a great pub lunch with Alison and David before moving on to Newent, and on Thursday morning with Jane wewent to the Arboretum for the first time - only 10 years old, but already well-established and delightful for gentle walks with dogs, of which we met many. Evie simply ignored their advances for the most part! Now on Friday we plan another pub lunch before moving on to Devon
To reach them we had to cross the Severn, and were shocked to see the floods at close quarters as we drove on a causeway over sheets of water a mile wide, the course of the river marked only by some moored boats. Later from the hilltops we could see the flooded river very clearly. After a little lunch in Great Malvern on Wednesday (eating too well is a frequent risk on this trip!) we looked round the Priory which is lovely, norman arches surmounted by a fine high gothic nave with lots of large stained glass windows and a beautiful decorated ceiling. Apart from the stained glass and celebrated mediaeval wall tiles in the chancel, I was most attracted by the misericords. The front rows of the choir stalls on both sides have marvellous wooden carvins of people and animals - I've included pictures of many in the photo gallery. The little town itself is charming, tucked under the towering hills but dark in the afternoon in winter because the sun sets early over the hilltop to the west.
Our visits to Alison and David, who have been in their Malvern house around 7 months, and then to Jane in Newent, where we've been many times in the past, were great. We had warm welcomes, comfortable stays, Evie was also welcomed, and we saw a little of the surrounding country in the improving weather - although still often cloudy, it is milder and there have been good spells of sunshine. We had a great pub lunch with Alison and David before moving on to Newent, and on Thursday morning with Jane wewent to the Arboretum for the first time - only 10 years old, but already well-established and delightful for gentle walks with dogs, of which we met many. Evie simply ignored their advances for the most part! Now on Friday we plan another pub lunch before moving on to Devon
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