8 soft buildings completed so far. Does this constitute a hamlet? An English hamlet is defined as a small settlement, smaller than a village, without a church. It will usually be in the parish of a nearby town or village that does have one.

The distinction between hamlets and villages reminds me of countryside drives - in a time before Google Maps - in search of a serendipitous cozy pub lunch. Heading towards a church spire in the distance was often a good bet on stumbling across its neighbouring country pub. There would usually be a local store, village hall and cricket green too - enough to sustain a village community.

But that was then, and over time rural communities lost their young to the cities; village shops to the out-of-town supermarkets and retail parks; and village halls to second home owners, hollowing out those communities with holiday rentals and unaffordable local housing. In many cases, what were once villages now became hamlets.

The buildings in my hamlet are taking on the look of soft furnishings, reminiscent of the many homeware shops that sell endless candles, throws and cushions. Those products speak to our desire for home and cosiness, for hygge, perhaps as comfort in these divided and insecure times.

Cotswolds hamlet picture from slownomads.phosh.net.