My first post and a walk to Barrow

First, a bit of background. I was made redundant a couple of weeks ago, so have a little time spare around job-hunting to share my experiences of living (and hopefully in the not too distant future working) in Rutland.
I moved to Rutland with my husband Phil nearly two years ago by mistake, and loved it so much we stayed. We live in Market Overton; a picture of which is on the header. There is also a link to a slideshow of views of Rutland, which may go some way to explaining why we are so evangelical about the place. We have three dogs and four cats, and two of the dogs are very elderly so can't manage much of a walk these days, hence most of my walks being with Annie alone.

So, on to my first proper post, a walk to Barrow (pictured above).

As the weather and the birds seem to have decided it's spring, I decided to take Annie for a longer walk than our usual Church walk, Berry Bushes walk or Bridleway walk. We set off down past Deirdre's house and fended off her two beautiful English setters, and followed the narrow track down to the arable field at the bottom. A rather muddy walk across the plough was followed by a short climb up hill across pasture, then over a style and past two inquisitive chestnut horses and some chickens. Here we entered Barrow, a tiny hamlet of golden cottages and farm buildings at the end of a no-through lane. As far as I can gather the only person who actually lives in Barrow is a rather curmudgeonly old gentleman who admonished me for not wearing a raincoat on a drizzly day. As usual, not a soul in sight or sound. We left Barrow down a lane (not suitable for motor vehicles) and followed this for a few hundred yards before turning right into a large (approx. 20 acres) arable field. Here Annie put up three lapwings and chased them the length and breadth of the field; lapwings peewitting and Annie yipping like crazy at each other. Finally as we approached the old canal the lapwings veered off, possibly due to the arrival of a large kite gliding low and gentle over the canal, the sun glinting like fire off it's red back. Annie seemed disinterested in the kite and stood knee deep in a muddy puddle lapping at the green algae, ears sodden. Round the other side of the field we made our way up the steep hill back into Market Overton, Annie galloping back and forwards tirelessly, me plodding up the hill panting. At the top of the hill Annie was reattached to her lead and we made our way home via Main Street and Thistleton Road. Following a thorough hosing down, Annie is now curled up asleep on the window seat.