A Grand Finale

Our trip is bookended at the start and finish by a week-long stay in a familiar, well-loved place: Paris on the front end, and now, as our travels draw to a close, the English countryside where we used to live.

We find roses at every turn, the only real thorn being the wistful nostalgia we feel that we no longer live here.

Rose: En route to our final destination, we revisit some of our favorite haunts in the Cotswolds. (Snowshill, Upper Slaughter, Lower Slaughter, Broadway, and the Daylesford Cafe near Kingham, to name a few.)

Rose: Being welcomed at the front door with a glass of champagne when we check in for a one night’s stay at the magnificent—yet intimate—Abbots Grange.

Rose: Our ground floor suite is cool and comfortable, stocked with every amenity, and conveniently located near the honor bar. Dave’s booking choices continue to impress!

Rose: Five nights at “Tyringham Small”, a converted barn adjoining the 17^th century Tyringham Hall, in the village of Cuddington. Dave has done it again; the AirBnB he has booked for the last week of our trip surpasses the standard he already surpassed!

Rose: Reunion dinner with friends in “our” village, and it’s as if we never left.

Rose: For Anna, attending a village Book Club meeting in-person instead of via Zoom. 

Rose: A cosy, delicious dinner and catch-up with friends at the Sir Charles Napier, a favorite restaurant.

Rose: A day of tennis (and champagne) at Boodles, a grass court “warm-up” tournament before Wimbledon.

Rose: Sunday morning walk, coffee and cake with friends.

Rose: A last afternoon in the village, visiting with as many old friends as possible.

Rose: For Dave, a pint and a chat with the vocalist and the drummer from his fabulous British band, “Innocent Bystander”. 

And now it’s time to pack our bags and take our leave, though in our hearts, a part of us always remains.

“And we ourselves shall be loved for a while and forgotten. But the love will have been enough.” —Thornton Wilder, from The Bridge at San Luis Rey