Exploring Yeovil...

What a lovely day I have had today...

...after a lazy start as Hazel was on her school escorting duties, we took Lily for a walk around the new development that has sprung up on the other side of Thorne Lane.  It was always in the Yeovil Town plan but when we left had still not materialised and now here it is being constructed - a complete village situated on the outskirts of the town.

Although the houses seem to be being built very close together the development is really attractive and a lot of thought has gone into the finished look.  The front gardens are beautifully landscaped or planted and each house is different and many have very individual or unusual designs.

Hazel tells me that the houses are expensive and you can see why.  Only a small part has been completed but just about all the houses seem to be occupied.  Eventually the development will stretch all the way to Brismore so what John and I would remember as rolling fields will be one big massive sprawling housing estate.



Our walk done we then went into town to return Hazel's fascinator and called back via Brimsmore Garden centre to see if they had any Alliums and to partake of a cuppa in the lovely cafe where I noticed that Hazel was sat next to a pretty impressive selection of local bottled beers - just a shame I cannot take any back for John to sample.

Hazel did her return school escorting sting and I took a little trip up to the Hobby Craft shop for a look round before returning to get ready for my evening out with Roger and Joani and Daisy Dog who have so kindly traveled up from Plymouth for a couple of days to see me.  They are staying at the Kings Arms in Montacute because it is a dog friendly establishment.  The pub has had a bit of a chequered past so I wasn't sure what it would be like - Joani said their room was "Bijou" so I am guessing accommodation is small.

What used to be a beautiful rural route from Yeovil to Montacute and one which John and I used to cycle regularly to get to the Masons Arms at Odcombe has now been interrupted by yet another massive housing development complete with a large school.  God knows where all the people are coming from and more to the point where they are all working.  The route may have changed but Montacute is still as beautiful as ever.  The pub is full of character and the menu rather more fine dining than pub grub which was surprising.

Roger, Joani and Daisy Dog do not change and they are such fabulous people I feel very blessed to have met them as a result of joining the Soroptimists.  I am just sorry that this photograph isn't in focus otherwise it would have been perfect 😞

The evening was delightful save for the fact that Roger's steak was tough but as the restaurant waived its cost we couldn't really complain.  Joani and I opted for an unusual but delicious starter of pea pannacotta, crab, mango salsa and pea shoots which, apart from some small bits of crab shell which proved it was fresh, was delicious.

I followed this by an equallys crummy main course of duck breast, sweet potato, asparagus and fennel served with a fruit 'jus' and then couldn't manage a pud although to be fair I am not so bothered about puds these days and I have become much more of a savoury kind of girl.

It was a fabulous evening - I can't tell you how much I appreciate the fact that they took the time to travel up and see me.  I hope Hazel might bring Lily with her tomorrow and we can all go for a walk around the grounds of Montacute House - that would be just fab.