Housesitting in Bishampton, Worcestershire

Looking after Cookie & Cracker (with a gin and tonic!)

We are having a lovely time with Cookie and Cracker, they are very cute dogs, both wanting lots of cuddles and fuss. You only have to look at Cracker and he rolls over onto his back so you can tickle his tummy. They would both really like to sleep on the bed with us, but two dogs, two people and one bed, as opposed to two people, two dogs, and two beds, which is what they are used to is a bit cosy. They do come in for coffee in the morning though.

Brian came back from Scotland with a cold, which I haven’t got, but it can’t be mine really, can it? It’s now hanging on, which is a shame. Partly because of this, and partly because it’s so nice to just chill with the dogs we haven’t done that much. Friday we shopped and Brian started working on his blog, Saturday we popped up to mum with the shopping we’d done for her, Sunday we had a full roast.

With Denise & Paul & dogs on Cleeve Hill

Monday we met Denise and Paul for a walk. We took C&C out for the shortest walk from the house, as despite having their own dog flap, they still prefer to do their business ‘out’. If we could get that out of the way we wouldn’t have to carry it which can only be a good thing. They also have their bit of wet food after their walk, and we didn’t want to confuse them. D&P and Brian had all come up with the same walk round Cleeve hill which finished a short drive from the Fleece at Bretforton, one of the few pubs about that seemed to be open on a Monday. It’s also the only pub owned by the National Trust, had lots of covered outdoor space and was dog friendly. It was a lovely walk, which C&C seemed to thoroughly enjoy. They were good as gold going on and off their leads, and had very good recall, even when a deer ran across the path! Our timing was perfect, into a little marquee for lunch just before the rain.

The lovely old Fleece Inn in Bretforton (apparently you don't pronounce the first 't' so it's Breferton)

In the marquee at the Fleece

Tuesday Brian had to nip into Birmingham to have his skin looked at, just the one thing to biopsy this time! Wednesday we went into Evesham, just for a look around, as although I spent long periods just down the road at Wood Norton, Evesham was just somewhere that the free BBC bus took as to to go to the subsidised BBC Club, of an evening. Anyway, the shops have probably changed a bit in 30+ years! Thursday we went back to Evesham to go out to lunch for my birthday. The very generous Donna and Keith had left us with £60 in vouchers for the Thai restaurant they recommended! Fabulous lunch, really enjoyed ourselves. Yesterday and today we have done some longer walks from the house, tonight we meet Helen and Ian in Redditch for a curry, another of Donna and Keith’s recommendations, and it is halfway between. Tomorrow we are going to medieval weekend in Evesham, and then our time will nearly be up!

The bar in the Fleece. It's not much bigger than this with a few dining areas in separate rooms. Very old and very quaintly British

This is lovely old Evesham, what a delightful place!

Jackies birthday banquet at the Thai Emerald on the High Street at Evesham

Unsurprisingly we have many photos of these very lovable dogletts Cookie & Cracker who always like to be with us. Here Cracker is not being helpful, wanting to sit on my lap while I put my shoes on to take them out for a walk. How he thinks this is helpful in getting them out on their walk faster only he knows

They like being close to one another too

And close to us!

Out for walkies then

Oh come on, do try and keep up!

Come on, it's this way!

They do like to chill on the bed too, with no regard to who else may need some space!

One of our other jobs here is to keep the wild birds fed. These little Goldfinches eat these sunflower seeds like there's no tomorrow. They are only small, but boy, can they eat!

It seems only fair that they allow me to take their photograph after the effort of constantly feeding them. This may not be a Goldfinch, or it may be a youngster. Helen S. will confirm - although not immediately, she and Richard are on holiday at the moment in Egypt and Israel - lucky them, their photos look fabulous!