Do you ever wish to be able to have a go at something, but be completely put off by the price of doing so - my Bucket List is littered with such activities. No matter how much I want to do them, my finances will never permit me to actually do them. I suspect this is true for most of us - the filthy lucre gets in the way of us fulfilling dreams.

A while back an image on a Groupon offer caught my eye. Yes, I know Groupon have had a lot of bad press lately, but this is a story of one of their more successful offers. The image depicted a man flying a Hen Harrier, and my curiosity piqued.  I clicked the link to discover they were offering an incredible deal at Fallowfields Falconry Centre in Oxfordshire. I read all the small print, even the really tiny stuff that required me to use my specs and a magnifying glass. Yes, it was a bona fide and genuine offer that would allow me to spend two hours experiencing these beautiful birds. Not just looking at them through mesh wire, but up close and personal.  I couldn't believe my luck and signed up. We paid £18 each - an incredible deal - my only concern would be that the class size would be vast, and this would detract from it. All my fears on this were put to rest when we went along - there was about 10 of us plus the Falconers who were teaching us.

Adjacent to the Falconry Centre is a rather gorgeous country house hotel, called Fallowfields.  We decided we would drive up early and have lunch as they had a very attractive offer on their Lunch du Jour Menu, whereby 2 could eat for the price of one. The Hotel itself was a revelation,  a lovely family owned and run Cotswold stone building set in lovely grounds. They had their own vegetable gardens, Dexter beef that was used in the kitchens too was in a field next to the restaurant along with a very crazy painted pony. They also had Tamworth Pigs, and my husband will tell you, the Pork was delicious. As was the poached egg that formed part of his first course that had come from the Hotel's hens.  The only thing they didn't have was bees - and being me I tried to persuade them that they should!

We opted for the 3 course lunch, I started with goats cheese and a confit of beets, whilst the iGit settled on the poached egg with a tomato jam, and a belly pork, the majority of which has been sourced from the gardens! The iGit went on to have Pork, whilst I enjoyed a risotto made from their heritage tomatoes.  I had explained I was diabetic, and asked if rather than have any of the delicious desserts on offer, please could  I just have a piece of fruit for dessert. They went to a lot of trouble on my behalf and made me a delicious fruit salad. Often when I ask for this,  the waiting staff will give me a blank look and say that it cannot be done. So extra brownie points for being so accommodating and flexible.  The iGit went for their version of lemon meringue pie and declared it a triumph, and he should know because he is a Lemon Meringue Pie Connoisseur. What did this 3 course extravaganza cost? £30. Each? No, for both of us!! The meal was delicious and the staff friendly and welcoming.

Lunch finished, we for a walk around the gardens, met the cattle and the piglets, checked the vegetable garden over - I was heartened to see they had suffered blight too - so it wasn't just amateurs like me who succumbed. Peeked in on their hens too and was sorely tempted to stuff a few up my jumper to take home. The entrance to the Falconery Centre was in the gardens, and we soon became absorbed in looking at the array of Birds of Prey they had there. Lots of different Owls, Kestrels, Hawks and Buzzards,  and a Caracara, who I think probably could teach the pick pockets on Oxford Street a thing or two.  I don't think I stopped smiling for the next two hours as our Guides explained to us with humour and considerable knowledge how these birds survive in the wild, their behaviours and differences. Apparently the phrase 'Wise Owl' is an anathema - they are really rather daft. I learned a huge amount I simply didn't know about them, despite my interest in them already.   It was fascinating.

We then went out to a field below the ha-ha in the Hotel's grounds and were introduced to the birds. First up was a pair of very young Snowy Owls straight out of Harry Potter known as Basil and Sybil. These juveniles were still learning their craft and it had to be said they are very clumsy birds. Not what you expect at all from a honed killer.

We watched and flew various birds of prey; Owls, a Harris Hawk, a Common Buzzard, and the most beautiful Kestrel. I fell in love with Kestrels as a child when we watched the film Kes at school as part of our English Literature education.  It was then to I became aware of how persecuted birds of prey often are, and wrongly so.

All I can tell you is I had the most amazing day. So often you dream and wish that something would happen, and then when you get to do it, it is a huge disappointment.  Not this day. Being able to interact with the birds and learn more about them and the Art of Falconry was a real privilege that I would recommend to anyone interested. In short, I had one of the most memorable days of my life, and given my recent history of memorable days, for once it was for all the right reasons.  I came away sublimely content.