The Garden of England

Early this morning Gavin and I joined some other walkers and we did an enjoyable 7 mile walk around West Peckham in Kent - it is known as the Garden of England due to all the fruit and vegetables that are grown there, and today, despite being winter, we could see so many vineyards, fruit orchards, raspberry trellises that one could see why it has earned that name for the county - all waiting to burst into blossom in the spring.

It was another bright and sunny day, crisp with frost and cold, but ever so beautiful. There were about 30 walkers and 10 dogs - Murdoch being one of the dogs. As we set off all the dogs were so excited and running along together - shortly after setting off I could not see Murdoch. He had got confused at one of those tricky stile gates that make it difficult for a dog to get through (put in by a local Arab landowner who does not like the English custom of people walking their dogs on a right of way path through his land). Gavin and I and a friend walked back to the start of the walk and there was Murdoch, he had had the sense to go back to the starting point and was waiting for us. We managed to then catch up and join the other walkers by taking a short cut to get back to them, and from then onwards Murdoch did not leave our side again!

We ended the walk in time for a quick pub lunch at the local pub on the green - it was an excellent morning and we all felt quite exercised after that walk.

Thomas' hockey match was cancelled today so no hockey photos - instead you have the green and pleasant land of Kent.