Cheddar Gorge

A whirlwind tour of Somerset on Thursday with Dad. We headed for breakfast at Farrington's Farm Shop, where we traditionally buy Christmas hampers. It began because Marilyn's mum used to live in Stratton on the Fosse, nearby. She died four years ago, so we dropped by to lay a wreath.

We took a wrong turn on the way back and ended up going through one of the most excellent pieces of road in England, through the heart of Cheddar Gorge (not far from Wookey Hole, where the witch lives!). It's a very narrow piece of road that twists between plunging cliffs. Some days you see mountain goats, but not that day.

The road opens out again when it reaches the town of Cheddar, which is full of quirky little shops - and cheese.

Rounded up the day at Cadbury Garden Centre, looking at the pretty parrots and the tropical fish. There were also some fairly funny cacti.

And on the shelf below, some festive ones.

Before heading back beneath Clifton Suspension Bridge, from which a woman, Sarah Ann Henley,  once tried to commit suicide and parachuted to safety in her crinoline skirt! And where my friend Daniel and I visited the Giant's Cave last year.

Sarah Ann Henley

Today we headed over to Banbury to have lunch and exchange Christmas presents with Mum and Merrick. Found a lovely little pub called The Old Auctioneer. Yummy olives, huge calzone and thin-crust pizza. Nomnomnom.

Perfect way to get into the festive cheer this year.