Friends in Bristol

"Lets go to Oriental Bay for fish and chips on the beach" I said jokingly  to Harry.  We looked at each other nostalgically and said 'it's just the night'.  Warm, sunny and not a breath of wind.  But instead we spent a Spring evening doing grocery shopping!! I should say at this point that we have perfected the art of grocery shopping (it was more perfect at home when Harry did it all but you can't have everything all the time can you?).  In the car we discuss what each one will get (Haz the fruit, muesli bars, something for tea while Denise gets the veges, bread, food for picnics and yoghurt etc ) and then both armed with a trolley off we go, occasionally bumping into each other in the aisles but more likely than not meeting near the check out.  Takes half the time - efficiency at its best!! Weather wise it has been a great week - April and May seem to be the time to come to England - every other way it was a bit of an ordinary week, working, cycling, dancing etc. But the weekend was different.  On the Saturday Barbara and Mike drove down from Northampton - their first visit to our place.  After a lunch in the sun we went to Tyntesfield - we arrived a bit late to go into the house but enjoyed wandering around the garden which was quite different to our visit a month ago.  It seems to me that Spring is a bit different this year.  In past years I have always thought snowdrops come first, then daffodils, bluebells and then other things.  But this year everything seems to be coming out at once and each area seems to have a little microclimate which means the daffodils are over in one place, but just budding in another. So, by travelling around you can see the best of everything. I hate to rave about the weather to all my kiwi friends who are heading into winter - but it might be the only time!!  On the way back we stopped at the Suspension Bridge where we took a photo of our friends (its the place we make all our friends have their photo taken) and then wandered up the hill to get a better view of the bridge.  Then it was off to dinner at the little restaurant round the corner.  Some photos are courtesy of Barbara and Mike - all 4 of us had cameras.

After a leisurely Sunday breakfast we headed off to Bradford on Avon, where we did the few shops that were open, wandered to the Tithe Barn and along the canal back to the little 1600's tearoom we seem to take all our guests. Then up the steps to the little St Mary's church, and along the public path that dissects peoples front yards - admiring the view and flowers and saying hi to dogs and gardeners first in High Row, then in Middle Row.  I think Lower Row is the street at the bottom that has lost its personality due to the busy road (where we later had a picnic in the car park before saying goodbye).