Lovely people

I haven't done any posting recently because I'm not in Australia at the moment, I'm in Bristol catching up with my PhD and lots of friends. And what wonderful friends they are too: last night Frances and Ali hosted a great dinner at Bordeaux Quay, down on the harbourside near the @Bristol complex. The restaurant itself was lovely: part of the Quartier Vert business it is apparently trying to be carbon-neutral and organic and absolutely delicious. I don't know what the status is with the carbon-neutral ambition, but the food was delicious. It's not that Coffs Harbour doesn't have any nice restaurants, it's just that they aren't as nice as the ones I have been spoilt with in Bristol over the years!

Sadly I failed in my resolution to stop being camera-shy and take lots of photos during our meal, but it was wonderful to meet up with Gary and Nimmi. Ali and Stu, and Frances and Ian and we had a great evening. I'm only sorry I didn't manage to meet up with more people! This week has been something of a whirlwind, with two trips to UWE for a tutorial and a presentation, plus book group with Miranda and Sophie on Tuesday night, tea with Mike and Rachel, a drink with Mark, lunch with Kate, and dropping in to see David and Valmai and David and Rosemarie and our friends at Sheepdrove Butchers and the fruit and veg shop on Lower Redland Road... and I'm hoping to catch up with Kay, Martyn and Sophie Scott and fit in another tutorial before I leave on Tuesday... Phew! I don't need jetlag as an excuse for feeling exhausted!

It has been absolutely lovely to catch up with so many people, and I know that Michael is looking forward to doing more or less the same thing when he's over in March. We miss you all terribly, and if I could arrange to transport you all to the environs of Coffs Harbour to live near us again (or even afford first class return flights for you all!) we would. Meanwhile you'll have to make do with our intermittent visits back to the UK.