Bill, there is no finer county in England and if I could think of a way of making a living there I'd move back in a heartbeat. Use to live four miles the other side of Ditt (Ditton Priors).
Didn't know you were a Shroppy Debs, I have to say the Perche is very similar to Shrops IMO. Indeed Charles de Gaulle lived in Shrops during the war and he thought the same. Ludlow's a bit hanky up cuff these days for my liking. I will try to bring a pound of shropshire bacon from Ryans in Wenlock to LM for you both, providing I get time to get up there. 90% fat and rind, with a few flecks of meat through the middle, it's the best bacon in the world for sure, you can eat it raw like Parma ham. Yum!