LittleBlueRhino's Holiday 1999

LittleBlueRhino's Holiday Page 1999

We have just been on holiday to Aymestry, near Leominster, staying in a small -partly 16th Century- cottage called “The Hole”

This was our first ‘live’ view of the cottage, as we drove up a very rough track that seemed - at points - to have been cut out of the living rock, a hazardous encounter in a hire car loaded with a weeks luggage. (Click on any picture for a larger view)

This picture on the left shows an end-on view of the main chimney-breast and front door, and shows a little of the sloping well-maintained garden. On the right, a side view showing the Bread Oven and the bedroom window -in the thatch- which had a marvellous view.

On the left, the countryside along with our hire car; a Volkswagon Bora.The cottage was very nicely situated and looked out over countryside that was green and hilly, it was also isolated to such an extent that it was difficult to see any sign of human habitation at any time -the picture on the right is the view from the bedroom window.

So isolated was the cottage that only occasionally would a 4 wheel drive vehicle be heard driving past. Indeed the only other time that man-made sounds were heard was on the Sunday, when there was a stage of a car rally that went through Aymestry, a fact only known because Phil walked down the track to have a good look at it in the daylight -it had been dusk as we arrived- and maybe to have a pint of beer in the local pub (more like 3 or 4 I hear) and get a paper. Here are two views of the countryside around Aymestry taken from the Village Hall car park.

He was to be disappointed, since he had forgotten that Public Houses do not open on Sunday until 12.00pm and he was too early. When he got back he found Catherine in the kitchen cooking Duck with apricots for Sunday dinner. The left-hand picture shows her leaning on the door to the compact but pleasant kitchen. On the right, another view from the cottage.

Indeed, so isolated was the cottage that it had a small stone-building (left) at the end of the garden which housed an electricity generator(right) which started automatically when a load greater than 100watts was applied. The generator worked well unless you left a small load (less than 100watts) on for any length of time, when the generator would need to be reset.

The cottage dates partly 16th Century, although it has been completely refurbished with central heating, gas hobs and running water. It also has its own spring, this is where the name "The Hole" comes from, which supplies the cottage -after suitable treatment. On the left, one of the ancient A-frames in the bedroom. Shown right is one of the glorious sunsets that we were pleased to watch.

On the left is the staircase, which was very steep and had one large(high) step at the top and had no bannister to help you get up it, but a rope can be seen (on the left of the picture) so that you could haul yourself up the stairs after a hard days rest. As mentioned before, the garden was well-looked after and here is a nice plant. (right)

The nearest city was Hereford, and shown on the left is our view from the top of the multistory carpark of Hereford Cathedral. On the right is the other side of the car park, showing the market where sheep were being sold.

In the centre of Hereford is a large pedestrianised area and on the High Street is a house dating partly from the 15th Century. This house is, not surprisingly, called "The Old House" and during the redevelopment of the city centre it was moved to it's present position -a move of about 500 yards.

Also in Hereford was this Catholic Church (left) which contrasted with the small disused Chapel in Aymestry (right). We thought it a very strange bulding to be a Catholic Church, but maybe it was built as something else originally.

As you can see, we had a very nice picnic one evening -although it was a bit late, here you can see Catherine having some of the beautiful food that she had prepared and getting ready to start on the Champagne that you can see on the Black Watch tartan rug. The food was so good that a little beetle came to visit us and share the bounty.

There was also a spider whose web showed up well in the late evening sun. We did not think he would want any of our picnic, but you never know. Here you can see me relaxing in good company on another evening by the bread oven.

We had a very pleasant and restful time in "The Hole" and were sorry when we had to go home, but all good things must come to an end and here you see me and a colleague of mine talking on our mobile phone to some of our friends back in London, warning them that we were on our way and that they should prepare themselves for our renewed energy and vigour.
Ah well, I hope that all of you had a good holiday this year and I wish you a very Happy 1999-2000 year change.

Home Holiday Front Top of this Page

	This picture on the left shows an end-on view of the main chimney-breast and front door, and shows a little of the sloping well-maintained garden. On the right, a side view showing the Bread Oven and the bedroom window -in the thatch- which had a marvellous view.
	On the left, the countryside along with our hire car; a Volkswagon Bora.The cottage was very nicely situated and looked out over countryside that was green and hilly, it was also isolated to such an extent that it was difficult to see any sign of human habitation at any time -the picture on the right is the view from the bedroom window.
	So isolated was the cottage that only occasionally would a 4 wheel drive vehicle be heard driving past. Indeed the only other time that man-made sounds were heard was on the Sunday, when there was a stage of a car rally that went through Aymestry, a fact only known because Phil walked down the track to have a good look at it in the daylight -it had been dusk as we arrived- and maybe to have a pint of beer in the local pub (more like 3 or 4 I hear) and get a paper. Here are two views of the countryside around Aymestry taken from the Village Hall car park.
	He was to be disappointed, since he had forgotten that Public Houses do not open on Sunday until 12.00pm and he was too early. When he got back he found Catherine in the kitchen cooking Duck with apricots for Sunday dinner. The left-hand picture shows her leaning on the door to the compact but pleasant kitchen. On the right, another view from the cottage.
	Indeed, so isolated was the cottage that it had a small stone-building (left) at the end of the garden which housed an electricity generator(right) which started automatically when a load greater than 100watts was applied. The generator worked well unless you left a small load (less than 100watts) on for any length of time, when the generator would need to be reset.
	The cottage dates partly 16th Century, although it has been completely refurbished with central heating, gas hobs and running water. It also has its own spring, this is where the name "The Hole" comes from, which supplies the cottage -after suitable treatment. On the left, one of the ancient A-frames in the bedroom. Shown right is one of the glorious sunsets that we were pleased to watch.
	On the left is the staircase, which was very steep and had one large(high) step at the top and had no bannister to help you get up it, but a rope can be seen (on the left of the picture) so that you could haul yourself up the stairs after a hard days rest. As mentioned before, the garden was well-looked after and here is a nice plant. (right)
	The nearest city was Hereford, and shown on the left is our view from the top of the multistory carpark of Hereford Cathedral. On the right is the other side of the car park, showing the market where sheep were being sold.
	In the centre of Hereford is a large pedestrianised area and on the High Street is a house dating partly from the 15th Century. This house is, not surprisingly, called "The Old House" and during the redevelopment of the city centre it was moved to it's present position -a move of about 500 yards.
	Also in Hereford was this Catholic Church (left) which contrasted with the small disused Chapel in Aymestry (right). We thought it a very strange bulding to be a Catholic Church, but maybe it was built as something else originally.
	As you can see, we had a very nice picnic one evening -although it was a bit late, here you can see Catherine having some of the beautiful food that she had prepared and getting ready to start on the Champagne that you can see on the Black Watch tartan rug. The food was so good that a little beetle came to visit us and share the bounty.
	There was also a spider whose web showed up well in the late evening sun. We did not think he would want any of our picnic, but you never know. Here you can see me relaxing in good company on another evening by the bread oven.
	We had a very pleasant and restful time in "The Hole" and were sorry when we had to go home, but all good things must come to an end and here you see me and a colleague of mine talking on our mobile phone to some of our friends back in London, warning them that we were on our way and that they should prepare themselves for our renewed energy and vigour. Ah well, I hope that all of you had a good holiday this year and I wish you a very Happy 1999-2000 year change.