Sarum Scarum

It was bright, sunny, but cool today.  We had plans. It had been a while since we had seen Badger and Mrs Tiggywinkle. Today was the day to set it right.

We set off mid-morning to allow for the Chichester traffic and the roadworks on the M27. Google had suggested an hour and a half, Alexa and hour and forty minutes. The Gorse Fox though both to be optimistic. It was predictably slow round Chichester but the M27 roadworks really had no impact maybe our electronic friends were correct. We arrive on the outskirts of Salisbury at 11:30. We were within three miles of our target. The traffic was almost gridlocked but we made our way, agonisingly slowly, round to the road for Netherhampton and as we rounded the roundabout, workmen closed the road in front of us. They set up a diversion sign which we followed - only to find that there were no subsequent signs. The Gorse Fox followed his nose and the Sat Nav finally jumped in to help. We looped round to come in from the north - only to find the road, again closed. We ignored the closure and drove there anyway. Finally at 12:30 we completed the last three miles and met up in the Victoria and Albert pub.

The first thought that comes to the Gorse Fox is "how on earth did the Russian hitmen get to Salisbury for the Novichek attack?" They must have set out months in advance or they would never have got there. The second thought is that maybe this is part of the new City defences. Prevent anyone from getting to or through Salisbury - that way everyone who is already there is safe.

We had a lovely couple of hours with Badger and Mrs Tiggywinkle. It was so nice to catch up on all the various news, views, and plans. It was also nice to see them looking so well. The food at the pub was simple, the menu not extensive, but the quality was superb. Badger and Mrs Tiggywinkle had some lovely looking haddock and chips (the Gorse Fox would have joined them had he not had fish and chips for supper for the past two days). The Silver Vixen had chicken and bacon salad, and commented how good it was; and the Gorse Fox had the pub's own (made on the premises) burger topped with bacon, cheese and chorizo. Superb. Afterwards we plumped for some cheesecake with a scoop of their eclectic choice of ice cream.... rhubarb and rosehip, salted maple, and stem ginger. It really was a very good lunch and a £35 a couple, great value for money.

As we parted the landlady screeched into the car park and announced the road was now open again. This was a relief. We headed back the way we had intended to come. Traffic was benign and we were home in about 75 minutes.