LOCATION: Housesitting in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, England

WEATHER: Sunny. Highs in 60s

There are beautiful walks all around our estate. We took the dogs for a nice walk along a path that used to be a railway.

Then, we visited the weekly farmers’ market and bought some local cheese, pate and salami. Afterwards, we strolled around the town center. Being Saturday, there were a lot of people out and about.

Lunch was at the Royal Hotel’s pub, overlooking the Wye River. It is said that Ross-on-Wye is the birthplace of tourism, as Wordsworth and other famous people came to enjoy the quiet and verdant area.

I found this plaque in the pub which says….

“At this hotel in September 1867, Charles Dickens met his friend and biographer John Forster and here decided upon his celebrated American reading tour 1867-8.”

Then, we went to the Morrison’s supermarket. Our plan was to buy everything we would need for a week, and hire a taxi to take us and all the food back home. (Too far to carry and too many bags to lug). The customer service lady called for a taxi for us and said we would have to wait 2 hours! Oh no! Then, when we acted devastated, she called another company and one came shortly. Whew!

We checked on the main house, and did our wifi catch-up there. The flowers along their wall are breath-taking

DINNER: I baked a chicken in the Aga – nothing better. It just fell off the bone and was really juicy. It was a traditional chicken dinner with potatoes and gravy, and carrots. Lots of chicken leftovers for other meals, and I made chicken broth for future soups and sauces.