Oh Christmas Eve…

You just wouldn’t have believed it!

Here in London we have endured endless days of greyness, drizzle, half-drizzle and full-on rain. The suddenly today, Christmas Eve, the sun came out.

My son, briefly home from faraway places, and eager to dip his boots into some English mud, came with me to the Chilterns, a range of mostly wooded hills 30 miles or so northwest of London. 

From Wendover we climbed steadily to Coombe Hill – at 260m the second-highest point in the range, but with by far the best views, then descended to circle the Chequers estate (yes, that’s Chequers as in country home of the British Prime Minister). 

The circle continues through ancient box woods to Beacon Hill, then down to Ellesborough, looking today the perfect English village in the sunshine. A mile or two further on we climbed back up Coombe Hill by the steepest available route – today a little slippery in the mud – before returning to Wendover.

And tapas. Just so delicious – a brilliant find to round off the 9-mile circuit!

OK I know, 9 miles isn’t much and it hardly starts the training for the big trip, but so what, it’s Christmas and it was a rare opportunity. We came home, hosed the masses of mud off our boots in case another opportunity arises soon – and opened a bottle of prosecco.

Cheers and Merry Christmas to all!