The River Mill

We walked to the River Mill Tavern in Eaton Socon for an evening drink, then home along the river bank to make our evening meal.

The River Mill, Eaton Socon

The River Mill is a popular spot. It's an easy walk from the caravan park so holiday visitors sometimes come here to drink or eat. The food is good, not cordon bleu by any means but adequate and nicely prepared and presented.

Once a week they have live music, and the tables outside overlook the canal basin with it's range of pleasure craft, many of them narrowboats.

I suspect there's a regular local clientele too, and others like us who live locally but only pop in for a meal once in a while.

I suspect that if I came here regularly I begin to recognise faces and learn some names. Most British pubs have a community atmosphere of some kind and I imagine the River Mill will be no exception.

(If you liked this you might also like Journeys of heart and mind and Quote me on this.)

Beaulieu village

We visited a community vegetable garden in Beaulieu today. And there, in amongst the cabbages and beetroots was a scarecrow all kitted out for Wimbledon!

Scarecrow at Wimbledon?

Wimbledon is proving to be a bit of an upset this year with several of the top seeds knocked out in the earliest stages. It opens the field for lower ranking players - but surely not for scarecrows?

Although he may be good at chasing away the birds, he doesn't seem to have a great action. In fact I'd say his performance is a bit wooden.

Beaulieu itself is a pretty little place, there's a small garden centre (Fairweather's) with a great restaurant attached called 'Steff's Kitchen'. They serve tea, coffee and good food, and they use fresh ingredients. from the community garden with the raquet-wielding scarecrow.

There's a teddy-bear shop and other small businesses focussing on the tourist trade. But the main claim to fame by this little village is the well-known motor museum, the Palace House, the old abbey and the nearby coast and the New Forest.

We haven't visited most of these sites yet, but I was very impressed with the work Fairweather's are doing in Steff's Kitchen and (particularly) Patrick's Patch. Not only is it good for the tourists like Donna and me, it's good for the local community involving schools, volunteers and more. Every small town and village needs projects like these. Well done Fairweather's and the good folk of Beaulieu.

(If you liked this you might also like Journeys of heart and mind and Quote me on this.)