On an attractive mural on the side of a Bristol school. Odd mix of values but all good. Walking past on our way to the Gloucester Road to check out the great independent, charity and arty gift shops along this Bristol highway. The only evidence of any creeping homogenisation, a lone Prêt.
We've been in Somerset for just over a week so I'll add the photos from those trips gradually over the next few days.
Today we woke in my sister's house having broken our journey back home from Somerset. A restless night with a flapping blind that didn't keep all the light out and it was still warm. Breakfast of strawberries and crumpets in the garden watching the mining bees poke their bottoms out of holes in the earth between the patio stones before leaving T and B to work, B still feeling discomfort from his hernia operation.
Got the bus down to the bottom of the road and worked our way up - the independent nature of the street still in evidence and loads of good places to mooch in - charity shops with vintage finds, Amnesty International's bookshop, delis and wholefood shops, gift and art shops. Picked up birthday presents and books as well as a couple of pasties and cookies to eat on the journey home.
Set off around 1 much later than ideal so of course we hit horrid traffic as we approached London - not great. And it took a long time to unpack the various bags and crates of food and accoutrements - didn't even start on my own suitcase. Had just enough time to rustle up a cheese pitta supper and practise the tunes from the week.
3 good things
1. Independent shops still managing to survive.
2. My lunch date tomorrow has cancelled so I can work from home.
3. The herbs which we'd brought in and left with water underneath more or less survived.
Ian