Wargrave is a little town 30 minutes north of Reading. It sits on the River Thames, just a stone’s throw from Henley. Mostly made up of large holiday homes on estates and some full-time homes, it’s a peaceful town with two cafes, two pubs, a homewares shop, a barber, a library and an old church.
My wife, Alana, and I needed a break from the city. We lived over train tracks, and the constant grinding of gears was doing our heads in, so we’ve come to Wargrave. We got a cute house on the river. We both work during the day but take breaks to feed the ducks, geese and swans. The swans have taken a liking to my wife. They come to her when she talks or sings. It’s like something out of a Disney story. A proper family, too: dad, mum and three kids. There’s a tennis court nearby, with a practice wall, which I like to spend time on, sometimes with Alana. The house has paddleboards, which we’ve taken out once, and a small rowboat, which we haven’t braved yet (maybe later).
It’s October now, and the leaves are falling, with the green turning to orange, yellow and brown. I love this time of year, not just because of Halloween and Bonfire Night, but because there’s a pretty, more dramatic mood to everything, and a cosy feeling when you’re inside. Not sure how long we’re staying here. It’s looking like another month, but I’m not complaining. We haven’t felt this much at peace or breathed fresh air like this in a long time, and it suits us.
