The Great Western at Corsham

We were invited to the Family and Friends opening night of The Great Western Pub at Corsham.

https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/16885689.works-starts-on-the-great-western-pub-refurbishment/

Mike and Kim the new landlords are friends from our Saudi years.  We spent our last night in the Middle East with them.  They drove us over the Causeway to Bahrain and treated us to a wonderful meal at Senor Pacos.  They also coped with the moment on the Causeway when the guy in charge refused to accept our Exit Only Visa - which seemed to leave us in No-Man's land - pretty much having left Saudi, but not having left enough to enable to us to drive the next few yards that would let us enter Bahrain.

It was lovely to see them again - 10 years later!  They don't seem to have changed at all. They were in a frenzy of preparation - complete refurbishment - workmen still drilling in one of the rooms - but it was all looking very good.  It felt great as soon as we stepped inside- a log fire was burning - it has the cosy feel of a good local.  And the darts team was already playing in the back room. 

They put on a lovely buffet - and we met the chef - a lady with spiky hair, tattoos, and great cooking skills.

So we hope its going to be a real success.   It will be hard work, but well worthwhile. We hope to call in for lunch when things have calmed down a bit.

And if you find yourself in Corsham, please pop in, have lunch, and say hello to Mike and Kim for us.  And to the two friendly dogs, who were so excited to have a pubful of people to rush about at.
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Back to our routine now.  Jean and I had a morning on the door to door work on Saturday. It was such an effort to get ourselves out, and we did not make it to the Field Service Group.  But we were so glad we did go.  One of Jean's regular calls - a Methodist lady - told us that she appreciated the mags so much she was sharing them with her group.

It was worth going out to hear that alone.

And I drove us (myself and a young sibling) to the meeting at the Kingdom Hall Sunday morning - the Captain having left early with Metal Detector and sandwiches.  No hoards of treasure to report but I think he enjoyed it all.

It keeps him off the streets - and in the fields.