A different ball game in Somerset

Well, not the game exactly, but Cricket St. Thomas is the name of the Somerset village where I spent a recent weekend with some friends. Lying just off the A30 in beautiful rolling countryside, it's a former stately home converted into a smart hotel. The word cricket comes from the Saxon word "cruc" meaning hill or ridge. And this settlement dates at least from the Domesday Book, although what we see now is this lovely pint-sized early 19th century church and the 18th century mansion which featured in "To the Manor Born". A stroll around the grounds allows us to fantasise about how it must have been for Viscount Hood, whose family had connections with Lord Nelson.

An excursion is seldom complete without a nod to Monty Python, so it's a must to drive to Ilchester, the village whose "fermented curd" is referenced in the famous cheese shop sketch. Ilchester---the most popular cheese around here! Sadly, although the village has three pubs it has no cheese shops. Plenty of beer but no Cheddar!Okumaya devam et