Busy few days

We got down to Bradford on Avon (BOA) early on Friday afternoon.  Our friends Sue and Dave Maude very kindly let us stay with them for a few nights but then on Monday, all of us are going to France. They are renting a house belonging to friends of ours in Cravant, for a month, which is about a five minute walk from our house. Our first few days back are a bit hectic, but hopefully we'll be able to do some things together after that.

Friday evening the four of us went out to dinner at a recently opened restaurant called Sebastien's Bistro. The owners, Sebastien - also the chef - and his wife Shahnaz, we know very well from when they were running the Ale&Porter in BOA. An interesting space, it had previously been used as a visual arts centre which then closed, and which was how we found it when we moved to BOA in February 2008. Sebastien and Shahnaz arrived, I think the following year, and we became regulars for coffee, lunches and dinners, until they closed last year. The struggle to get Sebastien's Bistro open is a long story, involving a highly inefficient developer, but finally it happened, although it was after we moved to France. Now at last we've seen their new business. The food is as it has always been, delicious, with a good wine list. Location is ideal - next to the river in the centre of town. It's contemporary in style, with maroon and light grey colour scheme.  We like it a lot and so hope it proves a success.  

Saturday late morning we went into Bath. I'd was going for a haircut at The Cavern with Jim who owns the business and is a fabulous cutter. Top-notch and a great character.  I've had a real problem finding a hairdresser in Chinon who can cut to the same standard. I have hair that really has to be cut well. I went to Jim a few days before we moved in April and the cut ten weeks on looked amazingly good and had held it's shape. Jim has cut it shorter again so I probably won't need to have it  cut until the autumn. Talking to a friend in Chinon, I heard about her daughter-in-law who is Chinese and whose hair was very difficult to cut. She'd had real problems finding anyone who could do it. Then fortunately a new salon opened up, and she went there and bingo, met with Sondrine who has cut her hair beautifully. So there's hope for me. Can't keep coming back to the UK just to get a haircut.  Mike was also in Bath, getting bits and pieces and checking up on the sale of a guitar. Having become a ukelele fanatic, his guitar although beautiful and specially made for him, no longer excites him enough to play, so up for sale it has gone. Quite a bit of interest as it's gorgeous. Bath on a Saturday afternoon is not a good place to be. Packed with shoppers - so congested and generally horrible. But needs must when you're making a flying visit.  Saturday evening we were round with one of our oldest friends, John, who had been storing the last few boxes that we weren't able to stuff in the car when we left in April. Good to see him. Looking extremely well. Caught up with his news and had dinner together. Lovely evening. Loaded the car with our boxes and then went back to Sue and Dave's.  Forgot to mention Saturday morning I'd gone with Sue to visit Trudy Montgomery, an artist who lives in BOA. Met another friend Sandra there. Had a chat and coffee together and then went next door to see Trudy's studio which is a big space. She works large scale. She's married to Shaun Moulton of the Moulton Bike family, so lives on the family estate in the town. Sandra is an excellent print maker and one of the best teachers. She also has a fabulous studio at her house from which she works as well as runs workshops and courses. My friend Sue is also an artist, currently studying for her MA in print making over at Bristol and have an amazing time. Don't think she has a website yet - so no links to post.

Sunday morning we all walked into BOA for coffee. Then Mike and I called into Local Morsels which is a local initiative attracting all sorts of highly skilled creative people. Needless to say, it was impossible to walk away empty-handed. Afterwards we drove over to The New Inn for a traditional Sunday lunch. Been over there at various times for lunch and dinner. Great place, excellent atmosphere and the food is always good. Met with some friends. Got there around 12.30 and left about 3.15.