Town and Country

We came back from the city in bright yellow sunshine, two country mice, and before a thing had been unpacked from the car we set off through the fields for a massive stomp. Hugo had been fairly settled most of the journey, with no elaborate panting, and I thought it only fair to reward him. It's not that we hadn't been out in the fresh air all weekend. First we explored Wandlebury country park set on a hill in the Gog and Magog range, kicking up the leaves and letting Hugo off the leash to chase squirrels. The next day we walked from Foxton to Newton along a delightful path that wove through fields and woods alongside a clear stream. The reward at the end of this outing was an old, old pub serving platters of rare roast beef and eye-watering horseradish relish with pints of Adnams. Finally we prospected Queens' College lawns, wedding venue par excellence, in expectation of summer nuptials. They say a change is as good as a rest, and it's true. I love this homely, arty, sophisticated, cosy, pretty, sharp, book-lined, welcoming Cambridge house that one of mine now calls home. And Hugo quickly negotiated the two flights of stairs, and worked out how to hover helpfully around others than me whenever food was being prepared. Oh yes, we're not stupid.

Oh yes, Hugo enjoyed the weekend too

I read India Knight's piece in the ST yesterday and smiled to myself. She moved from Hackney to the very rural spread nearby that she bought from friends of mine two years ago. Like Catholic converts she's much more zealous than those born to country life, and boy does she verbalise her delight. A bit like me. So it was no surprise that she was banging on about the joys of winter, and how we should allow ourselves to sink into its slower pace and the cocooning effects of extreme darkness. S'natural, isn't it? S'normal. As was pointed out to me at the weekend after my latest rant, this is a much more intuitive state to adopt in the country than in towns. Of course it is, there being no artificial distractions like street lights, traffic, bars and people. She feels blessed to have rediscovered this world which is even more accentuated in the colder months, and I couldn't agree with her more.