Adam's 30th

For Adam's birthday we went up to Cheltenham Spa for a long weekend. After the dismal summer last year, and no warm weather holidays over winter, Adam chose to go to a hotel with indoor pool, spa and sauna. So we spent our days reading the paper over long leisurely breakfasts, going for adventures around the gorgeous stone villages in the Cotswolds, having afternoon naps followed by two hours in the pool/spa/sauna.


A particularly fun looking adventure playground at Sudbury Castle


Sudbury Castle


It is lamb season


Adam somewhat surprised by finding this shop in rural England.


A treasure trove of gourmet chutneys, pickles and sauces

The Cotswolds are a "range of hills" according to wikipedia. From our end, they rise very gently up to the west, so that you really don't notice them. I don't know that this photo does it justice, but at the western edge, above Cheltenham, they have a really sudden drop and you can actually see that it is a distinct range. And it gives a nice view across to the hills in Wales.

And we went to a deer and bird park, and had fun feeding the animals and watching the ducks and chickens run over to get food.