We headed over to the Longstock Park Water Garden in Leckford after a busy morning (again) of football practice [Tosha kept busy by running around the huge field] {I don’t know why I like using different kinds of brackets for these asides}.

The water garden is owned and managed by Waitrose, of the grocery fame (in the UK at least).

Its hard to believe that it is just about 4 years to the day that we last visited!

They are open only a couple times a month (first and third Sunday of the month, from April to September inclusive, from 2pm-5pm).

The day started out pretty good - football practice was under gray skies but warm (22C). By 3pm when we got to the water garden there were some threatening clouds giving the glimpses of the sun we saw a run for its money.

Oh the smell of the countryside in bloom. And no, there were no cows nearby. The flowing, bubbling water added to the refreshing feeling in the air.

The kids took off over the various bridges and around a bush and then…they were gone with mummy. That left granny and Andrew to stroll around the edge of the gardens admiring the flowers.

Eventually, we were all reunited again. However, Tolii appeared to be wearing different clothes! Sure enough he was.

“What happened to Tolii?”, asked Daddy.

“He went splash”, said Mummy.

“Uh-huh. Again”, said Daddy.

For those that are keen watchers of our family videos, then you’ll remember that this isn’t the first time Tolii has taken an impromptu plunge into a chilly pond. He did it back in May of 2005 while walking in the woods near our friend Richard’s house.

Ah well. Daddy teased him a bit more and then it didn’t matter any more: it started to rain slightly.

We must be used to this country now: we continued our stroll irregardless.

Afterwards, we headed over to The Mayfly pub for some well deserved puddings, beer, wine, juice and tea!

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Here’s a map view of the Water Gardens:

Longstock Park Water Garden, Leckford, near Stockbridge, SO20 6EH

And here’s a map of The Mayfly pub:

The Mayfly pub, Testcombe, near Stockbridge, SO20 6AX

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