Cotswolds for Lights, Food, Panto & good friends.   

December 14^th – 17^th 2025 

Sunday 14th December

Two friends had come over from California to a cottage in the Cotswolds for the Christmas period and had very generously invited us to stay a few days with them along with another couple who’d travelled from Chichester.  We’d planned to drive down on Sunday morning, but since we’d been invited to lunch at the Kingham Plough near Stow-on-the-Wold at 1pm, there was insufficient time to drop off Tilly at the cattery which only opened at 10am, so she was bundled off half a day earlier than we’d planned.  I’m not sure whether she objected to this unilateral decision to extend her holiday – I never thought to ask – but it meant that we could leave at 9am for a more leisurely drive. 

There was a lot of spray on the motorway bypassing Manchester, but the roads began to clear after Stafford.  We stopped for a break at Frankley services, meaning that we missed the last five minutes of Desert Island Discs.  Now we may never know what Lee Child’s final record choice was.  We’d agreed to meet Elaine & Steve in the pub at 1pm, but being a bit early, we decided to go straight to the cottage where they were staying.  A telephone call just before we arrived alerted Elaine of our ETA and just as we drew up, the front door opened and Steve appeared but looked a bit disconcerted.  It seemed that Louise & Terry had also called to announce their arrival at the same time and Steve was expecting to greet them, but then we turned up!  Anyway, we all met on the car park with just sufficient time for hellos and hand-shakes before the five-minute walk to the pub.

It was very unfortunate for Elaine and Steve that they had both contracted colds last week and so to protect us, they opted to wear face masks throughout our stay.  This was perhaps more important for Lou and Terry who were heading out to Australia before Christmas to celebrate Terry’s recent retirement.

Lunch was excellent (although I can’t now remember what I ate) and we were back at the cottage by 3.30.  Elaine always makes a special effort to make Christmas fun, and this year, she provided small kits for us each to make small snowmen out of something that looked like a cross between shaving foam and playdough.  The material was very light and after being formed into a snowman shape, it hardened overnight.  The results were very effective. 

Despite doing very little all day, I felt very tired so I retired with a book at 10:15.

Monday 15th December

I always awake early and I was downstairs emptying the dishwasher at 6:45 (as is my habit) and had my breakfast before anyone else was up.  Whilst in the dining area, I quite troubled when I clearly heard a dove which sounded like it was in the living room.  Upon closer investigation, I decided that the dove must have been sat on the roof and cooing down the chimney.  It was so loud it sounded amplified. 

By 8am, everyone was up and we spent the next three hours messing about, having breakfast (second one for me!) and getting ready to go out.  We had planned a walk around the extensive gardens and sculpture park outside the property, but we only managed half an hour before we had to set off for a lunch appointment at the Punchbowl in Woodstock, half an hour away.

We arrived in time for our 12.15 booking, but somehow, two tables arriving after us were served first so it was 30 minutes before we could place an order and a full hour before the food arrived.  We were getting a bit worried about missing our timed slot at Blenheim Palace, but in the end, everything worked out fine.  And the food, once it arrived, was delicious.  I had a sausage and cheese focaccia sandwich with a side order of chips.

We left for Blenheim and were pleased that it was only two minutes away.  Parking in the grounds was straightforward and we were soon heading on foot to the house.  I took an umbrella and wore boots since rain was forecast (indeed my brolly saw a lot of action that day) and I’d heard that some of the paths on the Illuminated Trail could be a bit muddy (they weren’t).

Blenheim Palace is absolutely magnificent and was packed full of people when we arrived, but it was so huge that there was no need to queue for anything.

We had a timed slot at 2.45 to see the Wizard of Oz exhibition inside the palace.  I love the Wizard of Oz film, and walking through the various rooms was spectacular, with scenes from the story being recreated as we walked through.  We were told to allow an hour for the walk through the palace, but we were round in 45 minutes.  We weren’t offered a discount, though. 

We then had a bit of free time to wander round the Christmas market whose many stalls filled the courtyard.  They were very expensive and selling nothing that we wanted and though a mulled wine would’ve gone down nicely, I wasn’t paying £7.50 for the privilege of drinking it from a paper cup in the rain.

Instead, we took shelter in a very busy café which looked like it may once have been the palace kitchen.  We all crammed onto a small table in the corner where Geraldine and I had to share a chair.  There were many families there, several with tiny babies.  It must have been outrageously expensive for families, since many stalls outside were selling colourful, sticky and very pricy things attractive to children.  A couple of laps on the Ferris wheel was £10 each and there was also a fairground which took tokens priced at £3 each.  Even a ride on a simple swing boat cost one token. 

At 4.45 we set off to walk round the Illuminated Trail which was magnificent! It was raining throughout, but that didn’t dull the experience for me.  It took 90 minutes to stroll round – it was perhaps 2½ miles. There were many people there but we were all heading the same way and everyone was very polite.  I took far too many photos & videos which will need to be culled when I get back home.  The light show was accompanied by music all the way round and the sound was magnificent, especially the classical stuff. 

We left Blenheim at 6:45, but needed tea bags for the cottage, so we called into the Coop in Woodstock, before returning to Kingham.  We enjoyed a light tea of baked potatoes, quiche & salad before having a silly game throwing quoits at a reindeer’s antlers.  I lost. 

I was tired so at 10pm I went up for a shower and onto bed to read for a bit.

Tuesday 16th December

I slept through until 7.15 when I got up and made myself my first breakfast.  Terry was up too, but he went for a run, putting the rest of us to shame.  I lazed around until 10am before going for a quick walk round the village while Louise & Terry went for a swim in the on-site pool.  Yet more shame.  Then we had lunch.  Or late breakfast, depending on who you were.  The meal involved eating up bits & pieces that Elaine had found in the cupboards – soup, chicken slices, fish pieces, ciabatta bread, salad, bao buns & cheese.

At 1.40 we left for Burford (like herding cats getting everyone organised again!) where we spent an hour wandering up and down the interesting main street.  We both just managed to get onto the free car park which was almost submerged beneath the River Windrush. 

We left Burford at 3 o’clock and took a circuitous route to Chipping Norton after losing SatNav directions on the way.  With Steve’s excellent instructions, we found another free car park and walked to a tiny theatre for a pantomime performance of Beauty & the Beast.

The pantomime was excellent!  We were on row D with the first three rows filled with pre-schoolers who delighted in the performance, especially the mirror ball and the bubbles.  One little girl began to cry when the beast shouted and he had to apologise. 

It finished at 6.30, and then we’d just a short walk to the car and drive to Churchill for another excellent meal at the Chequers pub. 

I enjoyed a venison burger from the specials board which was delicious if short of a bit of salad.  Home for 9.40 and we chatted until 11pm when I went to bed.

Wednesday 17th December

I was up at 7am to do my usual dishwasher-emptying job and having breakfast before anyone was up.  I read a book until about 9am by which time everyone was up and Terry was out on another run.

I had a second breakfast of fruit & tea before we all left at about 11am: us North and Louise & Terry South.  Elaine & Steve stayed on until Friday.  Geraldine & I stopped for a Cappuccino at Hilton Park before re-joining a very quiet M6.  There was only light traffic around Manchester and so we arrived at the cattery by 2.30 to Tilly’s gratitude.

Our house was very cold, especially in contrast to what we’d become accustomed to in Kingham.  We opened the additional Christmas cards which had arrived in the post whilst having toast and coffee before starting to put up Christmas decorations – yes, we’re late this year.

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