Bandit Country

We were all up early. Urban-Cub and Ellie had to get back home as they had a viewing on their house this morning. Urban-Cub wanted to ensure that everything was spic and span.

The Gorse Fox and the Silver Vixen were heading into bandit country to meet up with Betty and Barney Rubble. As we headed across through Chichester, over the Downs, and into Hampshire the Gorse Fox wondered if there had been some "4 minute warning" or something. The roads and villages were deserted. Had coronavirus hit and the place been quarantined without the Gorse Fox knowing? Whatever the reason, it did make for a very pleasant and trouble-free drive.

It was nice to see Betty and Barney. They have had some work done on their house since our last visit. What had been a cold conservatory tacked on the back of the living room is now a lovely, well-insulated, warm, garden room. They've done a good job. Barney is about to embark on a bit of a kitchen refurbishment next. The Gorse Fox is sure it will look superb when finished.

We all went across to Upton Grey, to The Hoddington Arms, for lunch. It was busy, but we had booked so had no trouble getting seated. The food was excellent, as usual. We started with some home-made Thai fishcakes, then the Silver Vixen had a skate wing in chicken and chorizo sauce, while the Gorse Fox had haddock with chip. It was a very pleasant couple of hours before heading back to Odiham to continue our various conversations and drink copious amounts of tea.

The Gorse Fox had bought some night-driving glasses. They can be worn over normal glasses. The trip home was the first opportunity to try them. They lasted less than a mile. They did cut down the glare from incoming lights, but they seemed to play havoc with the Gorse Fox's depth perception. It's a good job they weren't very expensive!