Billy's Bread

I love my bread and have become addicted to what turns out to be a Fan area legendary loaf.

The loaf is the size of a large bloomer, pointy-ended and crusty. Inside it is firm and chewey and not too white, not at all sweetened and something between ciabatta and a French baguette. The ingredients printed on the paper bag list Rye Flour, but not yeast.

Apparently Billy, or his partner, bakes the bread. He learned his craft from a Vermont based Frenchman in 1999, but there's no bakery. I think the bread comes from a Wonka style facility somewhere.

Northbank Trail, James River Park System, Richmond

Finally the search for the next best thing to the East Bridgford's riverside has been found. Along the north bank of the James River we basked in afternoon sunshine, braved a side-stream crossing by log - P's steadying grip a necessity for all female members of the party - then found some pools for January paddling.

"I be naked!' is J's frequent remark, as once more she strips down, having got just a splash of water on her clothing. The swirling currents and deep pools do not make for a relaxing bathe but the scenery and vast expanse of water more than make up for the essential high adrenalin state in the accompanying adults. From the signage, poison ivy identification looks like the next skill to hone.

sweetFrog, Carytown

Fully - Rely - On - God = FROG

'sweet Frog' in this instance - the shiny, bright frozen yogurt bar where your sorbet can be taro or mango or a more traditional chocolate and if you use the middle swoosher button, a swirling mix of the two. Then the toppings are fabulously excessive and finally the sauces... You place your concoction on the scales and the deed is done. You are free to swizzle on your bar stool and focus on the contents of your tub. A Christian business model that is tasty, though Bev's ice cream parlour just down the street still wins the adult vote.

La Milpa & Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield

Our first Bank Holiday after the critical transition administration has been done, and after Christmas, was Martin Luther King Jr's birthday (and Nottingham's own Sarah Clark). It was sunny but cold, we climbed into the Subaru and went on a road trip; first we found a random Mexican restaurant come grocery store - it looked down at heal but we are trying hard to avoid the chains. A well-stocked grocery section had all the variants of beans and refried beans a Mexophile could ever desire, flour and corn tortilla and more chilli peppers than I've seen in a single day, tinned, frozen, pickled and dried.

Through the shop is a servery countertop with a worryingly faded menu display of dishes in Spanish and lacking detail (we found an English translation menu) and ordered a Fajitas, Tacos and Green Salsa. I had a protracted conversation with a non-english speaking cook to ensure the refried beans contained no lard, they normally do in the USA. We really need to step-up our Spanish learning, M is most proficient, however counting to twelve only gets one so far in a conversation. We've also identified our source of Pinatas for J's third birthday and we'll be sending M to buy, "Uno Pinata".

After lunch we drove on to Pocahontas State Park. M knows the movie and had high expectations, including possibly meeting the legendary heroine. The walk we took lead to an ice covered lake and all fancy commercialism was forgotten with the simple joy of throwing twigs and then logs (!) onto the frozen surface, breaking ice with a large stick and finally a mini picnic on a pontoon built for boat rental in the months when our family, a jogger and a cyclist aren't the only visitors to the park.

Home surprisingly in just 20 minutes, less of a road trip than it felt.

La Milpa (the corn)

Pocahontas State Park

Dodge 600 c.1987

a.k.a Dodgy, has moved down two parking spots on Floyd, after an exchange of $25 dollars and numerous instructions on its tender care. It rides like a boat on a gentle sea, though hopefully not like a super-cruiser off the Italian coast. This sedate gait is endearing and we hope will get the domestic team from Floyd Avenue to the supermarket and at a stretch to the botanical gardens. Certainly no highways for this vintage baby...

The Legacy Subaru c.2002 a.k.a Stinky (not pictured), is in the coveted alley parking spot. She remains a little wiffy thanks to the fags and hounds loved by her previous owner, however a few hula hoops and plenty of banana peel should shift her to a more familiar fragrance.

Why I drive an old car - Christian Science (!) article

World Market, Charlottesville

Sectional sofas come in parts and those parts might not all be in the same store or the same town, if you wait until the discontinued sale... so it was off to Charlottesville we headed for a left arm, with no rear visibility and a dying Tom Tom, in the pouring rain and under deep grey skies.

Amongst the bleakness we found a brightly painted bakers who did hot spicy lamb curry soup and bespoke sandwiches for the intolerant one. I chuckled when I returned from our exacting order to find her playing with the highest level salicylate material in the store - honey bears, lined up in a row across our table.

World Market

Richmond in a day...

36 hours in Richmond - What's a man to do?!

Well, under a rigorous schedule, he is able to bask down by the (James) riverside in 18 degree sunshine and contemplate a stone drop slowly into a murky quarry lake. Then after an appetite-building stroll back across the roaring river, can consume the roadside delights of Buzz n Ned's real barbecue with a clear conscience.

Finally he is squashed back into the slightly doggy smelling Subaru and taken into the woods of Gum Springs for the laid back charm of Grayhaven winery.  Calm ponies, afternoon sun on the vines and fab, dilapidated play equipment occupy the girls whilst the grownups laze on the deck and sample the latest in Grayhaven's Virginian and South African wines. A surprising lychee sangria got my vote and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc is chilling in the fridge for the next guest.

The kids ran off into the woods after a local boy, just before  the sun set on the perfect day.



Buzz and Ned's Real Barbecue

Church Hill, Richmond

So finally the view that brings the pastural Thames to our new Richmond at Church Hill. In brisk sunshine we raced across Libby Park, clambered up the steepest slope, and built a fairy tipi in the neighbouring Chimborazo Park - the site of the largest Civil War hospital that treated 76,000 confederate troops with a 20% mortality rate i.e. 152, 000 died!!!

Sustenance in the form of wholesome burgers from the Hill Cafe, previously frequented by Daniel Day-Lewis... 

J found an amazing sidewalk nativity.

NB: Civil War 1861-65