[The next few posts will appear a few days after they were written ...]After more than 2 weeks off work with stress, it's half term and Martha and I are taking a short break in Bourton-on-the-Water. The aim is to take it easy, and for other people to look after us for a change. As Martha's been ill - or at least out of energy - as well recently, it's been a difficult time at home. We have done a few things to help, such as getting the supermarket to deliver to us rather than carting a heavy trolley round. (Though, the first time it takes just as long, as we get to grips with their website. Next time it should be quicker as we can use some of the same details from last time.)We're staying at Meadow Rise B&B a minute's walk from the River Windrush that slowly flows through the centre of the village. Our room at the top of the B&B is good and large, and looks out over fields and to some hills. At first glance it was a boring large grassy field, but in a different light I saw that it was more ridged than I'd expect. Perhaps they're barrows? Maybe Saxon Kings are buried under it? Maybe that's why there are no crops or livestock on it. It's also quiet, which is wonderful. The B&B owners are very attentive and the full English breakfast was very good. (Though as one of the them is originally German, and still with a strong accent, I couldn't work out whether she was offering me fresh prunes or prawns. I didn't risk either.)And our eating place last night can also be recommended. The Old Manse Hotel had a wonderful menu - too good, really, with enough really tempting dishes to last a whole week. Shame we don't have that long. It has a very warm décor and candles, and a wine list with a good range of wines (including my fave Rosé grape, White Zinfandel), all of which were also offered by the glass (both 175 and 250ml). This is rarely true in my experience, often with only the 'house' red and white on offer by the glass. We rarely drink more than a single glass, so buying a bottle between the two of us always seems a waste. The wines also came at appropriate temperatures: the rose quite cool, but the red not cold at all.