Adlestrop

Yes, I remember Adlestrop -
The name, because one afternoon
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly.  It was late June.

The steam hissed.  Someone cleared his throat.
No one left and no one came
On the bare platform.  What I saw
Was Adlestrop - only the name.

And willows, willow-herb, and grass
And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,
No whit less still and lonely fair
Than the high cloudlets in the sky.

And for that minute a blackbird sang
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

                                                    Edward Thomas
                                                    1878-1917

Those of you who watch 'Countryfile' on TV each Sunday will be familiar with one of the presenters, farmer Adam Henson.  He runs a farm in the Cotswolds that is open to the public and today we had a drive over for a look.  It is a really good set-up; being spring there were plenty of young sheep, goats and pigs that could be stroked, fed and tickled, and lots of rare breed animals to be seen.  At this time of year in particular it is perhaps one for the kids but we still really enjoyed the day and I've lost count of the number of times we said something along the lines of 'Aaah, isn't it gorgeous'.  I was going to put a full album of cute animals on Flickr but since upgrading to Windows 10 it seems not to want to allow me to sign in, so I've just added an extra of a cute lamb.

On the way back we passed a sign for the village of Adlestrop which is mentioned in one of my favourite poems by Edward Thomas, so went to have a look.  The station has long gone but the sign is preserved in a shelter in the village.