Enstone walkies and lunch

Enstone walkies and lunch with auntie Kate, Carole and little Alfie.

Barnaby plays with litte Alfie the puppy and dear old Polly dogs in Kate's garden.

Barnaby says: "Gosh what a day.  I used up so much energy running round and round the fields with little Alfie that I was almost too exhausted to eat my dinner when we got home. Polly dogs joined in for a while, but because she is getting old now she does tend to curl up and sleep while we play.

Enstone is a magic place, it is known for its beautiful unspoiled rolling countryside, and its close proximity to an ancient Hoar Stone Burial Chamber that stands just outside the village near the village of Fulwell.  A blue plaque fixed to one of the cottages in Fulwell commemorates the life of the farm labourer and shepherd Mont Abbot whose life was written up by Sheila Stewart in her lyrical book Lifting the Latch, a social history that spans almost all of the 20th century.

Kate serves lunch in her lovely garden.

Old Mont always kept two sheep dogs, the training of the young one overlapping from the old, though he would never let the young one follow the experienced dog for too long in case they lost their initiative. His favourite dogs were old Ted and young Glen, who turned out to be a really topping dog.
I doubt there is a field in the Enstone area that Mont and his dog dogs did not work at some time or other."


The purpose of our visit to Enstone was for Barnabyy to meet up with Alfie and Polly dogs and to share lunch together at Kate's charming cottage.  As the weather decided to be kind to us we were all able to eat in the garden, and enjoy a lovely meal served with new Jersey Royal potatoes smothered in butter - delicious. Kate is a great cook.

We toasted the day with chilled Rose wine  - magic, though of course Barnaby is not allowed to drink wine. The dogs all enjoyed a big bowl of cold water instead.

One of the many beautiful meadows we walked before lunch.