A few days in Ludlow, Shropshire

There is nothing quite like spending quality time with old friends. Chris and I headed to Ludlow in Shropshire this week to spend a few days catching up with our close friends, Lyd and Rob, and their happy little chappy Benjie, my godson. Lydia and Robbie recently moved back to this charming part of the UK where they grew up, and are now settled in their rural idyll in the countryside complete with rambling farm house, dog(s - imminently), and soon to be chickens and donkey! Robbie runs the family business, De Greys, a quintessentially English tea rooms, bakery and B&B in the centre of town; it is something of a Ludlow institution and well worth a visit if you're ever in this neck of the woods. Lydia spends her time looking after Benjie, painting whenever she can grab a spare minute, writing children's books, cooking lots of scrumptious things and generally adapting to country life, all of which is documented in her blog here.

As Lydia welcomed us into the farm  a cake was baking in the oven, a fire roaring in the sitting room, home made soup simmering on the AGA and the kitchen table was adorned with rustic cheeses, fresh bread, and home-made chutneys and pork pie. It doesn't get more perfect than this. Especially when it's cold and foggy outside. Nigella eat your heart out!

We spent the few days we had catching up, eating and drinking,  eating some more, taking the dog for walks, playing with Benjie and just generally marvelling at the calm, simplicity and loveliness of life in the countryside. It was good to be reminded just how beautiful Britain can be...you don't always have to wander far from home to have memorable adventures.

Thank you Lyd, Rob, Benjie and Tigga (the dog!) for such a lovely few days. More tales to come from the Ludlow medieval festival when we visit again in a few weeks time!