The Lowdown

Today, we took a circular walk extending to about 10 miles, south from Charlbury to the village of Finstock and returned via the estate of Cornbury Park, the location of these fine blooms. We strolled through the centre of Charlbury in a southerly direction and paused to consult the map before heading off into the countryside in completely the wrong direction. Geoff is well known for his accuracy in map reading, but as is so often the case, equally well known and remembered for the eventful, but infrequent divergence from the planned route, affectionately recalled as 'Geoff's mystery tours'.

Today, the role of navigator was mine and within seconds of taking the map from my rucksack a local had asked us whether we were lost, but rather embarrassingly for her failed to be any help to us at all, in spite of her having claimed to be a professional and having met her husband at a climbing club nearly 50 years previously. Our discourse was nevertheless all very amiable, that was until my fellow walker asked her if she'd been resident in the village for long. Village? She said in a dismissive tone. Village? I'll have you know this town of Charlbury is a fine one and definitely a town. It has a town hall and council don't you know. We stood decidedly corrected, at least royalty was on Roger's side. Yes, he and his error was in good company, the same having befallen the Princess Royal on her visit to er... the town a number of years previously. Apparently the locals did a better job of concealing their disdain on that occasion, however the audible drawing of breath at its utterance was not totally concealed.

The day's walk passed enjoyably enough with a most welcome break at the thatched Plough Inn at Finstock. We enjoyed drinks and sandwiches in its secluded and sheltered beer garden on the upper terrace, but by the time we'd returned to Charlbury our thirst had once again returned, necessitating a lengthy refrain at the Rose and Crown.

Curry for dinner then bed.