Frosty mornings led us into the amber forest with Jet and Perla, the air crisp and the paths scattered with dens that felt almost magical. Evenings drew us back to the warmth of a crackling log fire, the house a cosy haven against the winter chill. For Dylan, it was a time of belonging, joining local craft sessions, making decorations, and being welcomed into the village tribe as if he had always been part of it.

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.