Is the kite named after the kite, or vice versa?

We missed another Thanksgiving in the States. Of course there is no celebration here in England. For most of the day we are alone; none of you are up until pretty late in our day. We managed to catch up with most of the family eventually. After a dog walk we stopped into a pub (with 2 large muddy dogs) and cozied up to the fire with a pint. The old lab loved it; I think the fire felt good on his old bones. A fire in the fireplace is something we don’t have at this house, more on that in a minute. The pub culture here in England is so cool. It’s like a public living room with fires blazing and comfy chairs, and proper ales served at 11 C. Dogs always welcome and here they’d usually be wet. We have gotten used to the warm, flat ale and this time of year, prefer it. You can get cider on tap too, but I think it tastes like apple cider with the hint of feet. After our pint, we took the now dry dogs home and returned to the pub for dinner; it is literally across the road, 2 minute walk. That was our Thanksgiving.

The names of places in England just sing: our temporary home is in a village called Sunningwell, part of the town of Abbingdon on Thames, in Oxfordshire. Shire is like a country; Oxford is only about 5 miles away. No car and the nearest bus stop is at least 15 minutes of brisk walking. Rain is always in the forecast, so standing at a bus stop, or getting caught in the rain for the walk off the bus, is not so appealing. We are staying close to home for the most part. One Outing was a trek out to Blenheim Palace, the home of the Duke of Marlborough and where Winston Churchill was born. We’ve seen a lot of palaces/castles and this was another one.

Extensive grounds with lakes, a waterfall and formal gardens near the house. It was especially pretty because of the fall color and it was decorated inside and out for Christmas. Ran across a large flock of huge guinea fowl and a very proud pheasant. Other trips were made to Oxford for pubs, a tour of Exeter College and the Ashmolean museum.

The big draw for us of this house sit is the walks around the area with the dogs. Pheasants and red kites abound, we see some every walk. Deer too. Mostly because there is a venison farm surrounding the area, but we’ve seen wild ones too (possibly escapees). The red kite is the dominant bird of prey here. It is gorgeous: the size of a big hawk, all red like a chestnut horse, it can hover on the wind completely still except for a flicker of its deeply notched triangular shaped tail. They were reintroduced to England after being extinct from hunting. Red kite have made an amazing recovery; we see several every day. They hover in the sky like a toy kite; and when they do move their wings to re-balance they look and sound like a toy kite fighting the wind. One of the other was aptly named after the first. 

The address of this house is “The Thatched Barn, at Church Farm”. Church Farm must have been very big, there are lots of its buildings that have been made into homes. There is a neighborhood church that would have been originally on the farm, or owned the farm. Its bell tower was originally a stone fort tower before it was the church tower. It looks like a converted fort with arrow holes made to look less defensive. The whole village of Sunningwell would have been part of Church Farm, and Church Farm still exists and is in business today. Lots of corn fields, the venison pastures, and more. The house we are in is pretty big; it was originally 3 different barns in a “U” shape. Two are thatched, one half timber and one barn is stone. Half timber is the Shakespearean era architecture with large beams vertical, horizontal and diagonally throughout the walls, with plaster or stone in between the large timber supports. One barn was probably open on one long side, probably an area for feeding cattle. Now this is the kitchen and that whole side is windows. It’s a very cool house. The whole house is completely open-beamed. Some of the beams are 18” X 18” or bigger; some twisting or splitting. The thatched roof is at least 3 feet thick, made of sticks of straw. It weighs 20 tons! But one thing about a thatched roof house – no fireplace. I’m sure originally it had fireplaces; it is probably 17th century or older, but there was no homeowners insurance then. Now there is a fire extinguisher in every room, no candles or open fires. Funny though, the neighbor next door has a chimney, probably 5 meters away.

We are having a good time with these two dogs: Tommy an old Chocolate Lab and Peggy their rescue Bull Mastiff. Peggy is a lot of fun. We expected a big slobbery dog; not so…well just a little. She is about 180 pounds, and even at that, she has an over-sized head. 

But the most expressive dog we’ve ever met. Her face and the way she cocks that massive head. She is making noises at all times: a snuffling sound when she explores or hoovers with that big wide mouth. And snoring. And farting; boy can she empty a room, and she does a lot! She is gentle and a big scaredy cat; surprising in such a fearsome looking dog. 

So we are getting a taste of Winter here. Chilly, some mornings the frost looks like snow. So beautiful. The woman that lives here has done a masterful job with her gardens. I appreciated the design last time we were here, but now that it is Winter and it still has a lot of color and interest, she really gets kudos. It’s a masterpiece. This is all the Winter we are going to get. 

In a week we literally head back to Summer. Australia. 2 house sits are lined up, and a lot of touristing. We will be in Australia 2 months and New Zealand one. Lots of fun stuff planned, including camping in a swag. Evidently that is a some sort of one person combination sleeping bag, mattress, tent. Out in the open. Seriously I am signing up to my first on-the-ground camping since college in a place with more dangerous snakes and insects than just about anywhere on the planet. It will be hot in the interior of Australia in Summer. They say this is a bucket list activity. Not my bucket list, but hey, I am giving it a go. At least the cold water showers will not be an issue with the heat. Stay tuned; this adventure promises lots to write home about.

Cheers, Mark and Kim, Vagabonds