Wanderlust and Words

I never know what to expect when I arrive at a new housesit, especially when it’s a small place with relatively little information available online. Bassingham, Lincolnshire, has been a delightful surprise. I had some lovely walks along the farm roads, an excellent supper at The Five Bells, and a couple of active days in Lincoln. But it’s the little things that I will remember the most – cuddles with the puss once she decided to trust me, super-friendly staff in the local stores, and masses and masses of footpaths and sidewalks – pedestrian heaven! Last, but certainly not least, I stumbled upon the most wonderful walking path between Bassingham and Carlton-le Moorland. Paved and just one-mile long it looked like a perfect afternoon outing when I took a break from work. Imagine my surprise when I found a giant carved rabbit near the beginning of the trail. And, when I rounded a corner, there was a larger-than-life-sized horse.  There were wonderfully elaborate benches as...

I walked past the Five Bells on my first day in Bassingham and it looked so inviting. I liked the combination of red brick, ivy, and various potted plants. I’d also been told they served very good food, so I decided to try it out. Now that was a good move! The Five Bells offers excellent food in pleasant surroundings with friendly service. There are wood fires at both ends of the low, wood-beamed room. I was seated inside the chimney nook that ran the width of the room so I was lovely and cosy. The ceiling beams were strung with dried hops and the walls and shelving were filled to overflowing with everything from a stuffed fish to a portrait of Winston Churchill. There were horse brasses and brass jugs, old books, an antique record player, an assortment of relics from World Wars I and II, and so much more. I really enjoyed my meal, which was beautifully presented. The squash, sweet potato, and chickpea burger was served with a generous portion of fries, crispy onions, and...

There are lots of public markets in the United Kingdom but far fewer farmers’ markets and they are usually only held once a month. So I was delighted that my one Saturday in the Lincoln area was the date for the Lincoln Farmers’ Market . Warning! Lots of pictures to provide possible inspiration for Saskatoon Farmers’ Market vendors. You can’t beat the Market’s location between Lincoln Castle and Cathedral! It’s a small market and there was only one farmer selling vegetables, but there were all sorts of other interesting items. There were two stands selling Lincolnshire and other British cheeses. One was also selling fresh unpasteurized milk from the cows on their farm. Autumn Harvest was selling mushrooms – fresh, dried, powdered, in soup, in risotto mixes, and more. They were also selling enormous pine cones from a tree on their land so you could harvest your own pine nuts. There were fresh and dried apples from the 130-year-old, organically-mana...

To make the most of my time in Europe, I looked for ways to expand my perspective and I stumbled across Treasure Trails . The company sells brochures with clues to lead you on a self-guided route. Along the way, you’ll solve a murder, find a buried treasure, or complete a secret mission. So many travel websites focus on big cities, but this site is designed for local families to get out and explore their community, and I was able to find treasure trail brochures for all 5 of the regions I’ll be visiting this winter, many of them in really small towns. My first trail was in Lincoln and I was trying to work out who had killed Porky Bangers, the champion sausage maker in all of Lincolnshire and even England. The clues led me on a route around the cathedral and castle and I discovered so many places where I would never have ventured on my own. There was a lovely hidden garden, a great place to stop for lunch, and a variety of interesting independent stores. Most people complete t...

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes  When I’m travelling, I’m fully alive. A week can feel like a month because it’s packed full of new sights, sounds, and experiences. It’s harder to stay “awake” to what’s around me when I’m at home. I settle into comfortable routines, walk familiar paths, and fail to observe what is going on around me. I’ll be back in Europe this winter and I’m determined to live my time there to the fullest. I’ve come up with some ideas to get me exploring more widely. Some are old, some are new. Lots of them can be incorporated at home as well as on the road. 1. Don’t stay in a hotel. Hotels are a neutral environment. If you really want to get a feel of a place, you need to live like the locals. Housesitting means that I not only shop locally, but I also figure out how the local garbage and recycling schedules work, and may end up purchasing a fundraising calendar from th...

Early spring flowers, sleepy ducks, and reflections along the River Welland in Spalding, Lincolnshire.