Head for the Hills ..

Trundling down the M4 at 6.30 a.m last Saturday, listening to Nik Kershaw belt out the words ...

"Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it was for just one day
And wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away
Wouldn't it be good to be on your side
The grass is always greener over there
Wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care."

The words couldn't have been more apt.. as we were on our way to a place where the grass was most certainly greener, where the birds song louder and more colourful, where the air was pure.. and there was plenty of it!

Yes.. we were off to Devon.. Chagford to be precise..

Arriving at the ridiculously early hour of 8.30 a.m, we browsed the windows of the sleepy town.. and one in particular.. the window of the estate agent's to play out my favourite fantasy game of 'where shall we live ?'

It was good to leave the tarmac and sounds of urban life behind and swap it for verdant hills, moorland views and the sound of the cuckoo. Exchanging the nocturnal sounds of late night revellers weaving their way home past our house at 3.30 a.m for the sounds of the owls hooting and the fox shouting at the moon...


We have found the perfect bolt hole in this gorgeous part of the world .. gazing down from the hill above to our home for the weekend and the most genial hosts we could wish to meet.. with their rambling, welcoming home full of dogs, a cat, chickens, black sheep and a very rude .. though hilarious parrot..

Walks along the river Teign at Fingle Bridge.. a place that draws us back time after time for it's magnificent raw beauty...

Spring flowers abundant and showing off their new wardrobe of fresh petals..

A garden to wander around at our leisure with the prettiest vegetable plot I have ever seen ..

Just one of those fantasies.. this one with beautiful mullion windows..

To end a perfect day a perfect evening down at the village hall .. gyrating to a Rolling Stones tribute band.. with young and old alike having a good old knees up.

It was a real wrench to drag ourselves away after two days of rural therapy .. especially hard as the sun decided to come out on the morning of our departure...

Dear Chagford .. we will return again soon.. and maybe for good one day!