We’ve spent some of the weekend camping in Shropshire. Very nice it was too. We managed impeccable timing: we got the tent pitched, and went to the pub. The rain appeared just as we got the tent finished, and it then hammered it down. Saturday was dry while we were out all day walking and drinking beer.

Talking of which, Shropshire would seem to have the best beer and the worst taxi services anywhere, which would seem to be an imcompatible pairing: We walked (the long way) to Bishops Castle, thinking we’d probably get a taxi back. Wrong! the only taxi firm for 20 miles was “at his daughter’s wedding”, and there’s no such thing as a bus service, so we got to walk back to the campsite at Wentor too- sum total 11ish miles instead of 6 or 7. The beer was good though. Kind of makes a mockery of people trying to persuade us all out of our cars. I avoid the car if possible at the weekend- but I can get to a large town in 15mins by bus. Out in the wilds of sheep-shagger land Shropshire you have no choice.