Maxey welcomed us with its timeless charm, a village of thatched cottages and winding rivers that seemed to hold their own stories. With Holly and Suzie bounding at our side, we wandered along the lakes and fishing banks, the world slowing to the pace of wagging tails and rippling water. Evenings brought the soft rustle of hedgehogs in the garden, mornings the chatter of birdsong, and in between, the joy of simply being present.