MOT Day

It was an early start this morning as Hilton had an appointment for his annual check-up (MOT)! It is always a traumatic time for Hilton because of the little flexibility of the "practice" that he attends. So, we left Hilton just before 9.00 am in the hands of his annual checker. 

We left him to face his demons alone and took a walk into Andover. Little had changed since we were here last year. We were entertained by a mum who let her children run an absolute riot whilst others were trying to enjoy a cup of coffee. The children's behaviour hardly changed after every threat that was roared across the coffee shop! This went on for over an hour. We should have been paid to have a coffee here! But it was entertaining!

A couple of hours later we had a call to say that Hilton had no reason to be anxious and that he passed the MOT. 

When we arrived back at the garage we were informed that for a short time the MOT had failed - yeah, a small light over the number plate has blown! This is the crazy thing - we had booked the van in for a full service with the request that anything that was not working then fix it!  (That's what we were paying for!) But for some reason that doesn't take priority - the MOT takes precedence over a full service! But it all worked out eventually. 

We drove away to buy some supplies but we were back to the garage almost immediately because we could hear a knocking in our steering! It wasn't there before taking it to the garage - they were quite happy to check it all out and found the recalcitrant steering spring! So, off we went again but a little  more attentive to the steering noise - all seemed to be well.

We were now able to get on the road and venture south where we stopped off in the old market town of Stockbridge.  It is said that the broad high street reflects that Stockbridge was once a stopping off point for herds of sheep and cattle being driven from Wales to southern England. 

The very special pub, The Three Cups Inn, part of the pictureque high street in Stockbridge. 

The beautiful sunny beer garden behind the facade of The Three Cups Inn. 

The Test River runs through the High Street - ducks and trout are visible swimming along the river here. 

Later in the afternoon we drove on to Mottisfont where we visited the property that was once a monastery but was ordered to be demolished during the English reformation. The monastery was partly demolished and a medieval "barn-conversion" took place to arrive at the structure we have today. It became famous during the early twentieth century for the artist and cultural connections and partying. Such people like Ian Fleming were frequent visitors. 

Mottisfont House - very engaging for all ages. 

The two sides of Mottisfont- the west front 13th century monastic wall and the east front  Tudor and Georgian "barn conversion"!

The Beatrix Potter exhibition here at Mottisfont offered plenty for adults and younger visitors. Throughout the grounds children were asked to find all the hidden "houses" with characters from the Potter books. 

Mottisfont with a very scenic waterway through the grounds. 

More of Mottisfont.  

Remains of the monastery at Mottisfont. 

And part of the front garden. 

We later drove on to Eastleigh for our overnight stop. 

The beautiful Hampshire landscape on our drive today.