I've been trying to get out to concerts a bit more often.

Last week we went to Huntingdon Hall (again) to see Roy Bailey and John Kirkpatrick. Sadly, the attendance was low and the average age, I guess, was around 65.

However, it was a splendid concert; both performers were excellent and I had a really good time and spent a small fortune on CDs (financed by the recent sale of my resonator guitar). It reminded me of what I've always enjoyed most about folk song; that is its role as commentator on social issues and the way it speaks truth to power.

A lot of us didn't think Roy would make it into his 70s - he has, and I'm grateful!

BERGERAC

We often choose our Easter break by seeing where we can fly direct from Birmingham; this year it was Bergerac on the Dordogne river in Perigord. A pretty little place, but rather quiet for me (at this time of year, at least). Food's typical of SW France, so lots of duck and duck products. Best restaurant we found was L'Imparfait which was exceptionally good.
The weather was mixed, but we managed a boat trip (saw lots of Black Kites - apparently imported from North Africa) and saw the French Olympic rowing teams practising.

Friday was spent in Bordeaux (about 50 miles away, but excellent French trains) where it's nice to see that the tram lines have been extended and that the work on the river bank is nearly finished, so the post-industrial wasteland had finally been revived! At last there is
somewhere to sit near the city centre at lunchtime!

(Actually, we had lunch in one of our favourite places - Chèz Edouard in the Place Du Parliament. Fascinating to see that the smoking ban seems to have been accepted pretty much everywhere.)

The airport at Bergerac is tiny (and quite sweet). Our taxi driver took great pleasure in telling us that it only has 3 gates: 1 for arrivals, 2 for departures and 3 for the bar.

After seeing spring in France, it's a bit of a shock to be back in England with frosty mornings!

Ah Spring!

So, we're well into spring. Some authorities suggest we're well into (possibly irreversible) global warming too.

So, the sight that greeted me this Sunday morning was:

This was taken at about 06:30. Of course, we don't really expect it to last and - since I'm flying off to France on Tuesday, I hope it doesn't!