Winchcombe

R and I hit the sales in Cheltenham this morning - almost unbelievably, given that we both hate shopping almost as much as we hate crowds of people. We bought new sheets, towels and wine glasses in John Lewis, and then I went to Blacks and whiffled in quiet distress over the cost of a new pair of walking boots. Pro tip though - if you can show them a National Trust membership card they give you an extra discount, which you can then blow on a more frivolous item of clothing, such as a winter nightshirt with stars all over it, on your way back through John Lewis to the car park.

The weather in Cheltenham was pretty vile, but it stopped actually raining as we were driving home, so I got R to stop in Winchcombe to let me whizz around and take a few photos. This is Dent's Terrace, a row of almshouses that were built by the Dent family of Sudeley Castle (though presumably not with their own fair hands) in 1865. They're now part of the Chandos and Dent's Almshouses Trust, along with the Chandos Flats that were founded by Lady Dorothy Chandos (also of Sudeley) in 1573. The Trust aims to provide affordable accommodation to people of limited means and good character who live in Winchcombe or nearby outlying parishes - which probably rules me out of contention.

For dinner tonight I made bubble'n'squeak out of the leftover dauphinoise and roast potatoes, sprouts (with pancetta and chestnuts), carrots, and stuffing, and served it with cold turkey, mayonnaise and cranberry sauce. It was quite possibly the best meal of Christmas.