Why would anyone live in Frenchay

I am a very lucky man. For the next week I've been given a hall pass and will be spending it travelling on my bike between Bristol and Padstow.

I arrived in Bristol yesterday and after a few (very enjoyable) meetings chatting about travel and older people at UWE I checked in for my first night.

I am cheating a little in that I stayed in a Holiday Inn near the University rather than in my tent for the first night.

Within about 5 mins of checking in I was slightly bored. Not a good sign before 8 days by myself. But one of the reasons I wanted to cycle was to have a bit of time (and quiet). As well as a desire to get a bit of exercise and see a new bit of the world.

After faffing for an hour or so (flicking through channels) I went for a stroll to what has to be one of the most tedious towns in the country.

Frenchay makes Buckley look interesting. Other than a Harvester (and a very good Indian) I saw absolutely nothing of interest. And yet the town has a museum (only open for about four hours a week).

There is a huge hospital and I popped in. At one stage things were getting so desparate that I even considered eating there. I could have gone back to the hotel to eat but it would have cost
me almost as much as my room.

Anyway, back to Frenchey, a town pretty much under the motorway. How did it get like this?

It's bloody cars.

I suspect that when people go out, they get in a car and go to Bristol or their nearest out of towmn supermarket. As a result there is no business in town any more.

Its not even an attractive village with far too many cars speeding past. Just dull, dull, dull. Could I find an interesting counrtry pub? Nope, just the Harvester.

So, after food in Raj Mahal, which incidentally was very good, I strolled back to the hotel, watched 10 mins of Cardiff vs Reading before retiring to HIGNFY (v funny) and Later with Jules (Loved Randy Newman - he should have done the theme to Monk).

In celebrating the trivial little things I spotted, the phrase 'more money than sense' seems apt. I saw a couple buy a bottle of wine in the Indian to take home (£12 plus an extra tip) even though they could have bought 3 bottles of the same wine in the conveniene stoor literally next door. Even the waiter questioned them asking them if they realised how much the wine was.

Getting back to the hotel I saw a lady pay in cash for a room. Paying the rack rate of £160. I had paid £39. All she needed to do was go online and she could have got it for £70*. Perhaps she was having an affair or running away from the law? Who knows?

So in the absense of anything big happening in Somerset this week I'm expecting to fill my time with the trivial side of people watching. I am very much looking forward to it.

PS, anyone know what this place is?







*I looked!.






tent