The beginning of this weekend has been very fruitful – and not just in the sense that I enjoyed the last bit of Gran’s banana bread. Dad stopped off at Ikea in Leeds on the way south, and picked up a Beddinge futon for me (as my car doesn’t have seats that fold down, merely a ski hole). We put that together on Friday evening, after a nice bit of stir-fry (turkey, carrots, mange tout and other veg), and Dad was able to sleep on a bed rather than on a mattress on the floor that night.

Travelled south to my parents today with Dad to collect my car – Mum had borrowed it on the way home from Barbados, and had it serviced for me. Good thing too, as the exhaust pipe had disconnected itself from the catalytic converter. This happens to be illegal in the UK, so the fact I don’t drive much has probably saved my bacon. It was foggy all the way down the motorway, pea-soup foggy in places. Cars with just their running lights on would pass us in the fast lane, and they’d be invisible in a few seconds.

After a spot of breakfast, Mum and I headed in to Stroud for the farmer’s market. Stroud is a very quirky town, with a dash of agrarian activities (such as a cow being towed by a tractor) and supposedly quite a bit of illicit substances – and it shows in the way people dress (and in the festival). It’s nice to see a town that hasn’t been absorbed by the monoculture that seems prevalent in the UK. We were a bit late to the market courtesy of the fog, some lovely landscapes and me carrying my KM5D with me, but still managed to get some good food. Stopped off on the way back for more photos of fog and fog-shrouded hillside – they’ll go up in my gallery soon. Had a chat with a gent who was out for some excercise, and was trying to take a picture with his mobile phone. I have his e-mail address, and will be sending him a link if any of the photos come out well (and I think a few will).

I leave you with a picture of my new futon, complete with throw, arm rests and sheets :)