The Old Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast Little Compton, England

When you are looking for a unique and luxury bed and breakfast in the Cotswolds, The Old School in Little Compton fits the bill. This attractive building really is an old school. It served as the local school for Little Compton for almost 140 years and it has found a new life as a warm and welcoming bed and breakfast.

John and Wendy Veale have done an outstanding job of making this a bed and breakfast that you won't soon forget. There are four rooms, three have king beds and one is a twin and all the rooms are ensuite. The rooms are named after local schools and when we stayed we had the Dormer Room. It is not one of the largest rooms, actually, it is the smallest room but it has a charm of it's own.

Our room had every comfort you could want including plush bathrobes, a mini-fridge with bottled water, tea making tray, and a very nice selection of both teas and coffees. There are even some cookies to satisfy your sweet tooth. The bathroom is large with a separate shower and a nice deep soaking tub. There is a basket filled with bath gel, shampoo, and lotion as well as a blow dryer.

In the bedroom,there is a flat screen TV and a DVD player. The colors are soothing, the bed is covered in a warm coverlet and a desk and two chairs if you want to relax in your room. You won't want to stay in your room, however. The guest lounge is gorgeous.

The guest sitting room

If you check out the website for The Old School you will get a good look at the magnificent stained glass window that anchors the guest lounge. You can relax on one of the sofas and take advantage of the WiFi to catch up on your emails or if it is your arrival day, you can relax with a cup of tea and the cake that Wendy will serve to you in the lounge. It is the perfect way to get your visit off to a great start.

We were able to walk to the local pub which is a gastropub and serves amazing food. It is an adventure to walk there across a field. Wendy will supply you with a flashlight but do watch where your feet are landing as there are a few things you might not want to step in, lol. 

In the morning you can enjoy a full English breakfast or any one of the variations that Wendy will provide. Start your meal with fresh or stewed fruit, cereal, yogurt or muesli. Grab a glass of juice and sit at the beautiful table to dine family-style. Wendy will get your choice from you for the cooked portion of your breakfast and also bring you your coffee or tea. I can testify to the fact that the scrambled eggs are heavenly.

You will be tempted to linger over your meal and you can but checkout is 10:30 a.m. so not for too long. If you need to stay around you are more than welcome to enjoy the lounge with your coffee or the guest parlor.

This is a wonderful bed and breakfast, with a very helpful and friendly hostess. Be sure to pick up a copy of the local cookbook, it will allow you to recreate some of your local favorites when you get back home. We loved our stay here and wishes we could have stayed more than one night.

Photo Friday: CUT!: Costume and the Cinema

Cut!: Costume and the Cinema is now on display at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester,Va. It is an exceptionally nice exhibit for anyone who enjoys historic films and gorgeous costumes. 

Anjelica Huston in Ever After

Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell

Keira Knightly in The Duchess

Kate Winslet in Sense and Sensibility

Kate Winslet's Hat from Sense and Sensibility

Upcoming Events at Old Sturbridge Village

Winter Market

November 27, 2015 to November 29, 2015 - 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Included with Regular Admission to the Village FREE for OSV Members$5 to enter the Winter Market only

Just in time for your holiday shopping, see dozens of juried craft vendors offering the finest hand-made items for the special people on your list. Marvel at diverse creations including pottery, paper goods, arts and crafts, ornaments, glasswork, textiles, gourmet foods, artisan jewelry, and gorgeous home accessories. Participating Vendors: Artfield PressBuzy B's StudioEmma’s Acres...

Brunch With Santa

November 29, 2015, December 06, 2015, December 12, 2015, December 13, 2015, December 19, 2015, December 20, 2015 - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

$26.95 for adult, $22.95 for seniors (65 and Older), and $13.95 for children 12 & under. Under 3 FREE. Tickets DO NOT include admission to Christmas by Candlelight, an evening event, which must be purchased separately.

Reservations Required, please call 508-347-0362.

Brunch with Santa at the Oliver Wight Tavern at Old Sturbridge Village offers a large selection of brunch items and a chance for the little ones to meet Santa. Sample Menu Made-to-Order Omelets Scrambled Eggs Eggs Benedict Applewood-Smoked Bacon Sausage Specialty Salads & Salad Station Assorted Breakfast Pastries Waffles with Sweet Toppings, Strawberries, and Whipped Cream Toasting...

Hotel Review: Sheraton Bradley Airport Windsor Locks, Conn.

Let's face it; sometimes it just makes sense to stay at the airport the night before your flight. Bradley Airport is located about 45 minutes from our home. Especially in the winter when the weather is iffy it can be the difference between making a flight and missing it. If you get a park and fly package, it makes even more sense. 

With the help of the Sheraton website I was able to find a AAA rate which included 7 days of free parking. Since our friend was also traveling I called the hotel and asked if we both got the park and fly rate could we use the 14 days on our one car, I was assured that I could. Of course when I got to the check-in desk, I was told that it was not true. Luckily since I was assured of this feature we were allowed to do it that way. I then had to pay the additional $15 per day for parking.  

Our room was a deluxe business room which means you need to use your key to get off on this floor which is number 7. Our room has a luxurious king bed with all white bedding. There were plenty of pillows and crispy clean sheets. I was very pleased. There is a chair and a foot stool as well as a small round table in the corner along with a pole lamp. I sat here to use my lap top and take advantage of the free wireless Internet.

There is a desk in the room and high speed access if you happen to not have wireless. Both sides of the bed have a night stand and a lamp which is nice if you want to read in bed. There is a large flat screen TV in the room with a fair selection of channels. There are two trays in the dresser that pull out. One has a small coffee pot with Starbucks Coffee and the other has an ice bucket and a free bottle of water. All and all, this is a very comfortable room.

A bathrobe can be found in the closet and amenities in the bathroom including a hairdryer. There is a combination shower and tub and a granite top vanity. One complaint, was this vanity made for munchkins? I am not tall and I found it low, I can't image how a 6 foot tall man could find it the correct height.

Near the front desk there is a small store with of all things, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. There was also an area with computers. The hotel has an indoor pool if you have the time, we didn't. There is also a fitness center, a lounge and a restaurant. Room service is also available.

All and all I am very pleased with the Sheraton and with the rate that we received. I am not surprised that two different employees gave us two different answers about the rate that we chose. It is common enough. I am also very pleased with the way that the young woman at the desk handled the issue. I highly recommend a stay here and I am sure I will do this again when weather or an early morning flight dictate