Lengthsman's cottage

We're just back from a week's holiday, although with fourth birthdays and associated parties, it doesn't feel like we're all relaxed!  We stayed at a Landmark Trust property, as has become traditional for this time of year.  This one is the Lengthsman's Cottage, situated near Warwick on the Stratford canal.  The cottage was originally built to housethe people working on and then maintaining the canal, and before 2006 was occupied by the same chap for his 80-odd year life.  

It was a lovely little situation for a holiday.  Enough passing traffic on the lock to bring frequent entertainment without being too busy.  Enough space, yet cosy in the cottage, and a nice enclosed garden for many different games.  

One of the boats coming past ("Up the canal or down?, Up or down Mummy?") was kind enough to let us hop on up to the next lock to try our hand at being mariners.  Tom, in particular, decided this was Not A Good Idea, although Marisca did like the button labelled 'horn'.

The canal path was nice in both directions - solo runs and walks for the grown ups and the occasional saunter for the children, rather than any big family outings.  Here Marisca is enjoying striding back to the cottage.  

Tom did very well at not falling in too - always a bit of a concern given how close we were to the water (see the first picture).

The garden was enclosed although only by a fence that Tom could (and often did) climb through.  Risky enjoyed climbing over it, even when not strictly necessary.

We also enjoyed games in the garden: blowing bubbles, playing catch and football, riding bikes, knocking 'rose bud petals' off the apple trees, and playing with the new shooting ball which proved the pick of the bunch.  It was great to see them both enjoying being outside so much.

And finally, well, here's Tom sitting on the door step.