First Full Day: October 24

 We woke to sunshine! Ruth had gone to bed around 5:30 p.m. and I had stayed awake till about 7 p.m. the night before, and we both slept in till around 7 a.m., so a good 12 hours of sleep at least. Rejuvenation! We relit the fire, then fixed a solid breakfast of boiled eggs, toast and jam, grapefruit juice, and tea. 

Fortified, we pulled on our hiking boots and winter coats, then ventured out to explore our surroundings. Hiking up the long, muddy drive, we came out onto the road and looked for views from gaps in the hedgerows. The hedgerows themselves were a mass of berry brambles, roses, holly, alder saplings, and other small trees. Some hedgerows are centuries old and are a great habitat for England’s numerous birds. The holly trees tower far above the hedge, crowned at this time of hear with masses of scarlet berries that glow against the dark gloss of the holly leaves. We did manage to find a few wild berries to eat, but most are either picked or shriveled into winter dryness now.

The view over the open fields and on to Wales’ rolling hills was glorious in the morning sun. 

We walked the lanes for almost an hour, then returned to a message from Teresa inviting us for lunch and an exploration of Presteigne. So we drove over and enjoyed more soup, bread, and pate, then set out for a tour of the town.

The old part of town is charming. The main church in Presteigne dates back to Saxon times, with a square Norman tower. Some homes are Elizabethan, half-timbered and white-washed. The high street is lined with shops—antiques, thrift stores, fruit and veg, chemist, and art galleries. Many artists and musicians live here, so there is a lively schedule of recitals and art shows. A wonderful place for Teresa to live. We met several of her friends as we made our way into various stores. We found some fun purchases: lap blankets (our cottage is cold!), greeting cards, a large pottery mug, a Cornish bowl, a knit hat. 

After exploring, Ruth and I returned to our cottage for a rest before returning to Presteigne at 6:30 for a tapas dinner on the second floor of the fruit and veg store (The Salty Dog). The owner is part Spanish and a great cook, and opens his upper floor occasionally for such dinners. Teresa came with her own bottle of wine, and we ordered shrimp, roast beef, mushrooms, chicken, paella, bread, and potatoes. A feast. We stayed talking for a long time, then wended our way back to the car and thence home. Thank you, Teresa, for a lovely day and evening.