Don't try this at home.

It was another lovely hot day.  We are still on the meadows and plan to stay longer.  This is one of David's favourite places and he has been looking forward to being here ever since I chose where we were going this summer.

This lady was on a practice walk today in training for a huge long walk in aid of children who are deaf and blind.  I refilled her water bottles and wished her well and made a donation.

We had found a pub near-ish by with highly recommended food, Oh I think we should try that.  I did need a little bit of encouraging to bike it, but then we could both have a drink, as to get to the road to Kirtlington is on a flat ridge all the way but to get to that ridge is a hike up a hill, then another hill which is undesirable in this hot weather.

So it was a most lovely ride, once I got up the hill from Somerton, and it was about 7 or 8 miles to The Oxford Arms in Kirtlington    HERE   oh my what a find.  Its probably a much shorter walk form further down the canal but here we are.  We booked for a Saturday lunchtime, as it was sunny but when we arrived we remembered that it was The Royal Wedding and no one was about, gardens were deserted and telly's were on.

The food is wonderful, the building ancient, the Landlord is a skilled chef and the Landlady charming.
I suggest you go there.

This was spicy duck with watermelon, fantastic combination, seen those chips????

Houses in the village.

We have this tree at home, but this one is far better.

  

So a little bit of farming news.... at this time of year farmers are going mad with maize planting.  Maize is vital food for cows, but it is a but fussy and likes a very fine bed and dry to plant the stuff.

Maize seeds dropped and a few shoots.

David checking this crop unbidden but he loved the soil.

Coming up a treat, how's yours going on David Lewis?

Sweet Chestnut in full flower.

and my first poppies of the year.

Now have I said that the Meadows are beautiful?  But there is a bit of a drawback.... Cows, free range cows, more of a consideration is the fact they have calves with them, this is a very serious subject and here we don't think that there are warnings enough, although there is a warning here which we (As subject experts) don't think is nearly as focused as it should be.

Oh did I say.... there's a bull here too.

So I watch these cows like a hawk before we leave the boat and walk to the gate, I know exactly where the bull is (I am particularly twitchy around bulls)  BUT the most dangerous thing in this field are the mothers of young calves.  If  a walker or worse still a dog walker should unwittingly walk between a cow and young calves she could well attack, without warning.  

A lady had her leg broken last December here at Somerton.  
If you are faced with a situation like this, first obey your instincts and choose another field or walk right away from the animals on the other side of the field or should you see calves DON'T WALK BETWEEN THEM AND COWS, but if you are attracting the attention of the animals, take the dog off the lead and walk away.  The dog will out run you and any cows.
  
So all got that?

The Lovely Meadows

See our chairs?  David had just dropped off to sleep, he hates to be woken so I was in a dilemma but they were getting closer, should I wake him or just leave him to it?   I do love him so I woke him... 

Getting closer  You might have noticed that I am now in the boat, yes David is still sat there.

David!!!!! For gods sake come in  "I'm protecting the chairs"

DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON A BULL

Moving the chairs into safety.

Yep he was close.....

Then as quickly as they advanced, and I had departed, they toddled off but you can see all the calves with them.

So I wish you all safety.