part II

Lower Amble farm is a wonderful place – a converted barn, beautifully furnished, wih many lovely pictures, and carvings almost littering the place. In the very large kitchen/diner, there is a massive electric Aga which keeps much of the house warmed. Hot water is controlled by the Aga plus an immersion heater, each bedroom has ensuite or adjacent bathrooms and is beautifully furnished with lovely comfortable beds. There is also for the sporting minded, a poolroom with its own table. The outside views are beautiful, as the property adjoins a river (either the Amble or the Camel) and the seaside villages of Rock and Port Isaac are only a couple of miles away. Rock is on the east side of the wide estuary of the Camel and is opposite the fishing port of Padstow, wherein lies the empire of King Rick Stein, with his restaurant, school of cookery and fish market. There is a foot passenger ferry which crosses the water, during daylight hours. Steve had booked us in for a gargantuan fish meal at the only available time of 9.30pm, but we decicided that by the time we drove the long way round to Padstow, via Wadebridge, had our meal and rested before returning, it could be late into the night, so instead we bought a variety of fish pieces and seafood at the fish shop in Rock and by adding certain items of veggies and sauces, I managed to produce a tasty fish stew, which we all enjoyed.
Steve was busy painting one of the upstairs bathrooms, but Mum and I amused ourselves by exploring the local seaside ports and villages and enjoying the sunshine from behind the warmth of our car window – it was still early March!. Our short stay over we parted with sadness from Little Amble and Steve and headed up the A30, until we met the M5 at Exeter and on to Oxford. We took the wrong turning off the M 4 past Swindon and made our way up through Faringdon where we stopped at a delightful farm for a cuppa or a P&P as we used to call it on our journeys through France.
The farmyard was filled with fowl of all sorts, geese, chickens, ducks and also a bunch of black cattle (as our American cousins would say). Refreshed we followed the A420 into Botley and popped into town via the Park and Ride as Mum wanted to buy a blouse for the Saturday party. £65 seems a lot for a Monsoon blouse which she thought may not 'go' with her skirt, but such are the wiles of women. Back to the P&R and along the southern by pass to Abingdon Road and thence to Hertford Street where Gemma was there to welcome us. What a lovely girl! Clive joined us soon and prepared a spag and pag for us - we chatted until time for bed. P.s the blouse did not 'go'!!