Monday, October 01, 2012


A Week in Windwhistle Cottage.

 
It isn’t clear whether Hawkchurch is Dorset or Devon – a bit of both I suspect.  It is a small lively village in a cluster of narrow lanes NE of Axminster, in fact our directions took us down towards Axminster and then a loop round to approach from the East side to avoid a shorter but more adventurous  scenic route along country lanes and over the River Axe.
 

The church is Grade 1 listed 12th Century – I went for a brief explore and was admiring a striking, stained glass window of scarlet roses when a friendly deacon told me it was to commemorate the rose- growing- rector who in 1894 planted roses round every door, so it was known as the Village of Roses.  You can just see on one of the photos the cottage on the right – near the church, has yellow roses – so perfect they seemed unreal in late September.  The deacon was worried that they may not have an organist for tomorrow's service; I really did intend to go but there was such a deluge and we had a lunch date for 12.30 so I'm afraid I was a fair weather Christian.

 
We had two enjoyable meals at our local Old Inn – warm and friendly with good, home cooking.  On our first visit the landlord came running up the village street after us, returning the sun glasses I had dropped.  It was a temptation to eat there every day – especially when we discovered the joys of the A35 but we did do some exploring.

 
The cottage was an- end- of- terrace, thatched, expertly renovated (two bathrooms, two bedrooms) and the most comfortable double bed ever.  I’m seriously thinking of acquiring a mattress topper of Duck and Feather down – 5” thick.  What do you think?

 We have a routine now which suits us and avoids heavy cooking and clearing.  A light breakfast, a good lunch out and a light supper, with occasionally swapping the lunch out for dinner.  Just as well as the cooker completely befuddled me; it was a touchy thing and I managed to get the flashing zero and then lost it.  And I never got to grips with a microwave.  An Aga leaves you in the 19th Century.  Fortunately MTL applied his mind – although he is just as remiss as I am in not reading instructions.

 
I loved hearing the voices of the children as they went to the Village School, watching the many dogs being exercised in the fields behind us and the horses trotting through the village.  At times however there would be rush hour and an amazing number of commuters would belt through the village to say nothing of gigantic farm vehicles.  Not the time to choose to back out of the cottage drive.

 
Photos below – more later.

16 comments:

The Unbearable Banishment said...

I believe purgatory is littered with fair weather Christians. Or is that limbo? I can't recall the difference.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Google "cock stride." I've high hopes.

Ms Scarlet said...

Oh, the pictures look lovely, Pat. And a big YES to the mattress topper, I want one too, they are bliss.
Sx

Pat said...

UB: I love it when a comment makes me laugh.

Scarlet: Saturday Telegraph has an offer saving up to £40www,telegraph.co.uk/bedroom. A double is £84.99

mapstew said...

Welcome home!
(I'm of to do the 'big' shop, so will have a proper looksie later.) :¬)

xxx

Pat said...

Map: good boy!

angryparsnip said...

What a lovely trip. I think the mattress topper would be wonderful especially in Winter.
Forget the "what is the name of this village" part in your photo post. I always look at your photos before I read your post. Must learn to read first look at photos after.

cheers, parsnip

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I love the sound of children's voices calling, playing.

Your holiday sounds idyllic.

I'm off to check out the photos.

Pat said...

Parsnip: perhapsI can get one as our 33rd wedding anniversary or MTL's Birthday in November. I feel I should get it as we have our handyman here for a few weeks and I have justreceived my £100 prize money - in spite of the factthat it has been spent 2 or 3 times.

GG: I think the salient feature of the cottage was the happy vibe it had.

Unknown said...

Lovely looking village, Pat. Really must take a detour and a decko when next we travel west.

Pat said...

Mike and Ann: do try the Old Inn if you do. And take a photo of the rose window in the church which I didn't manage to do.

About Last Weekend said...

A mattress topper really makes the bed - my mother swears by them and she and Dad owned lovely motels on the beach for years. That place sounds idyllic. I am def one of those people who go back and back when they find a good place to eat...

Pat said...

ALW: that does it I'll order tomorrow.

LL Cool Joe said...

I can't have a duck and feather mattress topper as my partner has asthma, well unless we sleep in separate beds. :D I have recently bought a memory foam pillow and can't decide if I love it or hate it.

I wish I could get away with eating three meals a day but I can't!

When we are in the States we don't go to church, well my partner does but I should too, and I can't use the excuse of rain!

Good one about struggling with the oven, what a great way of getting out of cooking! :D

Unknown said...

Mum and Dad stayed near there.

Marjolein said...

Those pictures are wonderful! I miss the UK... I went over 6 times last year, but now with the new house and because I hopped the (tiny) pond so many times last year I'm afraid my husband is not really in the mood for another city trip across the sea.

If a cooker has digital numbers and starts blinking, it means it's not making proper contact with the pan so it can't heat the pan properly. Maybe that will help in future?

Pat said...

John: I bet they loved it.