A year of the Cirencester blog

One year Wold.

To say “it’s been an interesting 12 months” is almost banal nowadays. Pick any 12 month period in the last 50 or so and given the upheaval that is going on, well, almost anywhere you care to name, it will feel like a lot has happened within that time. There is plenty to give you cause for utter despair – clueless politicians pretending they understand the modern world, despots left right and centre, and a narcissistic nutter squatting in the White House. Even as I write this, the headlines are full of missile strikes against a despot who is alleged to have gassed his own people.

Even our lovely home town of Cirencester has not been immune to controversy. If you don’t believe me, say the word ‘Chesterton’ to any Cirencestrian and watch them roll their eyes or give a puff of the cheeks. So what, then, does a small blogging collective in the Cotswolds and its periodic output over the last 12 months matter when set against all of that?

On one level – on several levels, probably – not very much at all. We’d be the first to admit that our voice is no more worthy of being listened to than any of the hundreds or thousands of others that have something to say. But that helps us keep our feet on the ground, our focus close to home: the Cotswolds.

The reason we started writing about Cirencester and its environs was because there was so much we felt we wanted to tell other people about, even if all they gleaned from it was a different take on something they already know well. We also felt that there was a gap, that there was a lack of local bloggers and articles about the area. That, happily, turned out not to be true. In fact, we’ve come across so many people during the last year – here or on Instagram – who are clearly as passionate about our shared muse as we are, if not more so.

What comes across, as we read articles and look at the myriad photos, is the pervading sense of positivity. When reviewing places (eateries mainly, but only because there are so many on offer) it’s easy to slip in a couple of niggles, or even be openly critical, but I rarely see that. That’s just remarkable when set against the polarised, opinionated world we now seem to live in.

During the last year, we’ve have been reminded what a fantastic asset we have in Cirencester Hospital, we’ve eaten well (whether at breakfast, lunch or dinner) and of course we’ve enjoyed the seemingly limitless beauty and splendour of the Cotswolds. And while it’s not been all good news – remember when we lost the health shop in Castle Street and one of our two Whiddett’s? – even that gave us one of the best quotes ever given to a local paper.

I was chatting to a blogger friend of mine about writing about the town or city where you live. The emerging theme of that conversation was that it involves a certain degree of mythologising, accentuating the positives. He’s right. Not only is it just a better way of approaching things, but also that, among all the craziness out there, it feels more important than ever to pay attention to the good stuff around you and show it some appreciation. You end up showcasing the best of where you live, and I’d say that’s a good thing.

So yes, it’s been an interesting 12 months (whether you take the macro or micro view) and the same will probably true for the next 12. But while “interesting times” is often used as a curse wished on others, you can easily see it in the opposite light. What is clear is that among the many adjectives you could use to describe the Cirencester and the Cotswolds, ‘interesting’ is definitely high on that list. The sheer variety of places we’ve been to in order to write content has been a joy, and what’s even more exciting is that we have so much left to discover, enjoy and share.

And there’d be no sharing were it not for those of you who have kindly read our posts, digested our thoughts and even started following us, so for that, it seems best to end on a sincere and earnest “thank you”.

etc.

A day at the hospital

Yes, I know – it hardly sounds like a programme. A day at the hospital invokes images of drab, sterile interiors, grey, featureless buildings surrounded by large, monotonous car parks. Not in Cirencester. If you are unlucky enough to have twisted an ankle while dismounting from your horse at the Sunday polo or slipped outside Waitrose on a rainy day, you can count on a welcoming, comforting and yes, picturesque environment at the local hospital.

I became an assiduous visitor when my kids were little; as a new parent, I was a little over-anxious and needed regular reassuring from the medical experts that my kids were behaving normally, even when they exhibited what I interpreted as near-death symptoms. We took many a trip to Cirencester hospital and were met, every time, with helpful staff and delightful facilities. Now that they are teenagers, I am past seeking reassurance on their normality and keener on checking on my own remaining sanity.

And so for years, we never went, only ever driving past it, barely giving it a glance, much less any brain time.

And then, just the other day – and entirely out of the blue – I had cause to be reminded of what a gem our local hospital is. My teenage son contrived to acquire yet another sports injury (and they say sports are good for you), injuring his foot while playing football. (That’s what he told the school nurse, anyway.) So there we were, my daughter and I, maladroitly but enthusiastically carrying him through the doors to the minor injuries unit, where we were mercifully relieved of our porter duties thanks to the prompt delivery of a wheelchair. Cue the embarrassing display of wheelchair driving skills – seriously, it’s not as easy as it looks – as we negotiated the narrow, twisting corridor to the waiting area. Here we were finally able to relax and enjoy the views out of the large bay windows onto the beautiful landscaped gardens, and admire the other hospital wing facing us: a beautiful Victorian manor house.

Cirencester hospital is set on a hilltop, in a central position in the town. The manor house we spent those couple of hours admiring is actually Querns House, a grade II listed building, built in 1825 in the Tudor style. Being a converted manor house and a period building, it features the traditional mellow Cotswold stone (now pleasingly mottled with lichen), church-style windows,  and rolling landscaped gardens. There’s even an internal garden that you can enjoy through the glass panels lining the corridors around it.

Being a market town hospital, it exists on a smaller scale than other, more modern hospitals and as such appears less forbidding and more human in scale. It has little charming traits: take the tiny shop that sells refreshments (sandwiches, pens, toys and a therapeutic cup of tea), run by a sweet elderly lady, the sort who could easily feature in a children’s storybook as the archetypal spoiling grandmother. We have made several attempts to adopt her during our visits to the hospital – yes, she’s been there a while –  but  it turns out she has enough grandchildren already. Such a pity.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I enjoyed my ante-natal appointments there and was really saddened to learn the maternity ward had been just closed; what a serene place it would have been to enjoy the miracle of motherhood! (Although, with hindsight, the screams accompanying childbirth might have spoiled the relaxed atmosphere of the place.)

Fortunately, while the maternity unit is no more, other units remained – and remain – open, though the shadow of closure seems to have hung over the place for some time. Every few months, rumours seems to surface about a potential closure of this cherished establishment; happily, this has not happened yet, even if there has been some down-scaling of services. We need our hospital to survive; it serves a large network of surrounding villages as well as Cirencester itself, and offers prompt assistance for injuries that need attending to as a matter of urgency and would otherwise require a long trip to Gloucester on a busy dual carriageway.

So as a call to action, I urge you to support our local hospital, keep an eye on its status and voice your appreciation for it. Be more adventurous and incur the odd sprain, dislocation or break.  My son  – collar bone fracture and this latest sprain – should be an example to us all. His self-sacrifices on the playing fields of Deer Park have been our family’s contribution to keeping it in business! If there is to be a silver lining to the new, extensive housing construction planned for our town, it ought to be that it justifies better facilities for our community and more investment in this undervalued town institution. One can hope.

Westonbirt Arboretum: New Year cleansing for body and soul

Whenever the mind feels fuzzy with too much screen exposure, late nights or just the hectic pace of life and the body heavier with too much indulgence and inactivity I find the perfect cure lies in a walk in the woods. It literally brings you back to earth and makes you appreciate the beauty of our natural world. The clear oxygenated air, the fragrance of the trees, the silence and the beauty of a forest is one of the great collective wonders of life – if only we stopped often enough to appreciate it. A walk in the one of the great cathedrals of nature always regales you with a sense of perspective and an appreciation for the bigger picture as well as gratitude for our wonderful environment.

We are particularly blessed in the Cotswolds for the sheer variety and beauty of our woodland: two of the Forestry Commission’s arboreta – Westonbirt and Batsford – and the wondrous Savernake forest are all on our doorstep. There are few worthier destinations for the woodland walker than Westonbirt Arboretum, just outside Tetbury. It is divided into two parts: the old arboretum, an amazing collection of international renown of trees and shrubs from all over the globe, and Silkwood, a lovely hillside covered by indigenous woodland.

The old arboretum is for those who appreciate the beauty and variety of the plant world  – who take pleasure in recognizing a sweet chestnut from a horse chestnut, an oak from an acer, a yew from a pine. You can walk along the seasonal paths of the arboretum, dazzled by the fiery reds, yellows and oranges of the acers in the autumn, by the floral explosion of the azaleas in the spring, enjoying the cool shade of the leafy London planes in the summer, but if you catch the arboretum in the winter snow you are in for a true fairytale experience. If you are a dog walker, Silkwood is the part of the arboretum where you can enjoy a great scenic walk while your canine companion can feel like he is really stretching his legs.

Whatever the season, I always feel like a kid discovering a magical place in the arboretum, a kind of Alice in wonderland. There is a special suspended atmosphere that puts us humans back where we truly belong, as part of nature’s rich tapestry. I have been a member of the arboretum for almost two decades, my kids have been going for walks there since they were babes in arms; it has helped them appreciate the value of nature and its soothing, uplifting effect.

Once you have paid your dues and reacquainted yourself with nature and topped yourself up on the ozone-enriched air, what a great treat to have that warming hot chocolate, coffee or tea in the lovely wooden cafe. In the summer you can sit out on the wooden deck and enjoy the warming sunshine too. And no visit is complete without a visit to the delightful gift shop, with a great selection of quality wooden ornaments, kids toys, stationery, sweets and biscuits, gifts and outdoor clothing.

If you find yourself thinking that the same collection of trees might get a bit samey after a few visits, the arboretum plays host to a variety of events that always have something to offer, from large-scale events like Enchanted Forest in winter, when the arboretum is lit up into a Christmas fairyland, to smaller activities such as workshops and guided walks.

If you can start a new healthy habit for the new year, there’s nothing I’d recommend more than becoming a member of this wonderful establishment. It is a modest investment (£38), for a year’s worth of blissful walks  – good for both the mind and the body. What’s more, this membership doesn’t only get you into Westonbirt, it gets you in to the smaller but no less enchanting Batsford Arboretum and many others besides. For more information, visit https://www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt

 

Abbey Home Farm, Cirencester

Sometimes you feel the need to go somewhere unfussy and cheerful, where the values that inspire the business transpire into what you see and what you buy. The love for nature and respect for the environment inform how Abbey Home Farm shop and coffee shop are run. It is the very essence of the place. It is a calm yet joyful milieu, with an abundance of seasonal produce grown on the land around the farm or sourced from other organic growers. The flavour of the fruit and vegetables you acquire here is such that it will take your dishes to a whole new level. Beyond veg, you can buy meat, grains, pulses, cakes and confectionery here, all of which taste great. As a keen cook I am a strong believer in letting the natural flavours of quality ingredients speak for themselves; I remember getting a leg of lamb here for Easter lunch and my guests were hugely complimentary about how it tasted – it really made all the difference!

I love coming here even if it’s just to hang out. Whatever the season, you always have a sense of it by the produce on the shelves and the surrounding countryside, whether it’s pumpkin and mushroom-laden shelves in the autumn or gorgeous bunches of assorted field flowers and an abundance of tomatoes and courgettes in the summer. There is a lovely area out front with some wooden chairs and tables where you can enjoy your drinks and food from the coffee shop and restaurant, under the trees, and let the kids play free-range on the climbing frame and swings.

Inside, the restaurant is a light and airy place with lovely views over the surrounding countryside. It’s not fancy, but it’s not meant to be. They do a mean roast dinner on a Sunday and great trays of succulent roast vegetables during the week as well as colourful, scrumptious, nutritious salads. The cakes are not elaborate or refined either but they positively burst with flavour. The lemon drizzle, polenta and orange or flapjacks are all robust and satisfying.

The farm runs seasonal events too: I once came here for a cookery course, invited by a friend of mine who had received it as a Christmas present. It was a one-dayer on their house salads – and it was a thoroughly pleasant experience. I picked up some great tips, too. There is normally a farm day in the summer, with tractor rides and access to the animals on the farm for the amusement of kids and adults alike. Out at the back of the shop there is an area devoted to furniture and gifts, as well as some natural cosmetic ranges and some books too. Enough to keep you interested and amused for a good half hour.

With all that is on offer in town, it is so easy to overlook Abbey Home Farm (or the Organic Farm, as we call it at home). But it is an oversight that is easily corrected if you just want to pick up a few groceries and maybe get a bite to eat. We have made a promise to ourselves that we will make the effort to get there more often, and we think that you should too. And as it’s autumn with all the fantastic flavour the season offers, there’s probably no better time.

 

Bank Holiday Special

On One of My Favourite Shops in Cirencester

Following on from my midweek withering a few weeks back on the unintended consequences of the Market Place refurbishment, I am taking this opportunity – and what better time than on a Bank Holiday weekend – to turn to the positive in penning this  paean to one of my favourite shops in Cirencester. You’re going to have to go with me on this, as it is perhaps a trifle unexpected, but for years now, it has been – and still is – one of those places where I will almost go looking for an excuse to go and buy something. I realise that may say more about me than I should perhaps be comfortable with, but let’s give me the benefit of the doubt, and take a moment to appreciate the wonder that is Gardiner Haskins. Like I said: go with me on this.

I don’t know about you, but thinking back to my childhood, I seem to remember that nearly every Sunday morning was spent not in Church (despite my parents’ best efforts) but in the DIY superstores that began to spring up on the edge of towns around the UK. While I know such trip were unremittingly dull for some, perhaps even most, kids, I have to admit to liking them. Perhaps it was the size of the likes of Sandford’s, – remember them? – Texas, and the others whose names I forget, that impressed me, or perhaps it was the thought that this trip marked the starting point for the creation of something exciting at home; to this day I retain fond memories of those places, which may go some way to explaining my liking for Gardiner’s.

But this not just pure nostalgia we are talking here.

I like the fact that is in the centre of town, rather than stuck out on the periphery of the town. I am not, in general, a fan of those out-of-town shopping centres. I know they have their place, but one of the things I like about Ciren is that the town centre is a proper nucleus that holds the rest of the town together, and so to have a town centre where nearly everything you might need is obtainable is a wonderful thing: it is to Cirencester’s great credit, that it houses a shop that you would, under normal circumstances expect to be relegated wallflower-like to the periphery.

Also, it has its own carpark. Again, I suspect that that is a fact that often goes unnoticed, but one that deserves at least a modicum of acknowledgment, not to mention appreciation. In my case it verges on the ridiculous that I drive there, but with the winter  – not to mention the recent downpours – we’ve had, I’ve even less compulsion to walk. I can’t help it but it is a facility I like to make use of when I have cause to shop there: even in a town where it’s relatively cheap and easy (most of the time) to park for any length of time, one feels as though it’d be madness not to use it.

Another thing I like is that it has a back entrance to add to the one out the front, something which, like the car park, may not be much to recommend anywhere, but how many stores in the town can actually boast that? Calling it a store rather than a shop is particularly apposite; it’s not just a place where we – yes, more of us than we might think – go to part with our money and walk out with something, it is that we know Gardiner’s is where things are kept for us when we most need to go an buy them. This is something one finds all too rarely. Granted, in the kitchen section for example, it has many items you’d be able to find in Steamer Trading a few salubrious metres up the road, but it has the more mundane stuff as well. Personally, I feel comforted that if ever I have an urgent need for a new frying pan and some kettle descaler, I can pop along to Gardiner’s and be able to find what I’m after, and even get a recommendation from one of the generally very knowledgeable staff as to what one is best.

I’m a big fan of the in-store recommendation; when one is in the market for something, even for such mundanities as caustic calcium removal products, it brightens one’s day to get not just a recommendation, but one with a pros versus cons summary as part of the package. It almost makes me want to go shopping for some lawn feed, and I don’t even have a lawn. We may be used to well-trained and knowledgeable staff in our town, possibly even overprovided for it, but here they take this to another, almost gloriously obsequious, level. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not about the attention – most of the time I heave a sigh of relief if left unbothered by in-store staff – but it is such a delight to see service and attention to detail still being seen as important. It makes a difference.

The minute you walk through the door (either one), you know that this is shopping that is slightly removed from the norm, but in a very good way. Whether it’s from the front into the midst of all the kitchenalia, or from the back where one is greeted by four-way gang plugs, coaxial cables – well, cables, anyway – and possibly even hanging baskets on special offer. From there you can go in many directions – time was when I used to lose my bearings in there – and end up in paint, the aforementioned GreenGro or whatever it’s called, even upstairs to lighting and furniture (both indoor occasional and outdoor): the world is your domestic necessities oyster.

So, there we have it. Next time you need some bin bags or some more clothes pegs, first make sure you actually go to Gardiner’s for them. Then take a moment and look around to discover what is actually in there and consider the sheer amount of useful and not-so-useful – who really wants a DVD of the London Midland Scottish Railway between the wars – stuff that they have: it really is remarkable. I, for one, am very happy that we have a shop like Gardiner’s in our town centre. I treasure its presence, and I think we all should.

Wednesday Whinge – The Market Place

Cirencester has been a market town for centuries. Indeed, the Council’s own website proudly declares that it was mentioned in the Doomsday book and it is undeniably part of the town’s DNA. The wool trade that established the town and maintained its prosperity is now only legacy, with the town now a place for traders of all kinds. The agriculture that surrounds the town, not least in the shape of the Royal Agricultural University is, though, a constant reminder of the town’s roots, and shows its face more clearly every time the artisans come to town to display and sell their crafts and wares.

So it is little surprise that we all hold views on the Market Place, and its lengthy revamp. I can recall various conversations on the topic all throughout 2016 as we worked up to its completion and unveiling, at the switching on of the Christmas lights by the estimable Ben Miller, who even saw fit to make a joke of it. A common thread that ran through all of those conversations was a lack of understanding of: a) what took so long; b) what exactly were they trying to achieve.

The ‘they’, incidentally, in all of this is the Council, the body of women and men who are responsible for the management of the town and its amenities. As such, they are responsible for maintaining and creating an environment that works for the town, its people and its businesses, businesses that contribute to making a community what it is, but also rely on it to be able to survive.

So it is with some concern that within the space of a few days, two of these businesses are literally shutting up shop, and each doing so because of the new Market Place. The first to go was Whiddett’s in Cricklade Street, a bakery that is known to many. Owner Robert Whiddett laid the blame clearly at the door of the Council and its regeneration scheme which, he said, had hit the branch to the tune of £1000 a week. His quote in the local paper, claiming that “the only other Roman town that’s had worse done to it is Pompeii”, may have overstated things, but it does convey a depth of feeling that is genuinely felt. At least they live to fight another day with their Dollar Street branch – do head there and check out their sugar buns!

 

All but gone too is the Nutrition Centre in Castle Street, which shuts its doors on the 29th of July. This is a particular shame, given the level of nutritional expertise that we will effectively lose from the town. I know some people who have been going out of their way to shop there in a vain attempt to help them survive, but it’s no avail. The owners there, too, privately cite that the regeneration scheme for the Market Place as the reason for the closure. It hit traffic so badly, they say, for such an extended period of time that it did irreparable damage to their footfall and, ultimately, chances of survival.

It’s easy to tell ourselves that the town centre is a thriving and prosperous hub, but these are warning signs that ought to be heeded. The upper end of Castle Street is not what it once was, and Cricklade Street may be heading the same way.  Yes, the premises may get filled by some chain or other, or even another local entrepreneur, and we would wish them well. It is undeniably sad, however, that we have lost two local businesses in the space of a few days. We need to cherish – and actively champion – such folks, for they give character, identity, and soul to market towns like ours.

Indeed, independent shops are vital if we want our town to stand out from others, if we want to offer tourists a reason to visit somewhere unique, rather than a carbon copy of smallville, middle England. If our high street ends up looking indistinguishable from any other small town’s – then why would people come? After all, we are the capital of the Cotswolds and we owe some of our prestige and affluence to our visitors. Variety is the spice of life, as they say, and there is no variation in the umpteenth cafe chain outlet.

A few years ago, I was on holiday in and around the town of Holt, a market town in North Norfolk that is not dissimilar to Cirencester. It has a deli-cum-eatery like Made By Bob, a specialist coffee shop with delicious cakes like Cotswold Artisan Coffee, even a pottery painting studio just like our own Pick a Pot and Paint. After a few days there,  it struck me that there was not a single chain in sight, not a High Street brand anywhere except for Boots the Chemist. I asked about this and was told that it was the result of Council policy, and I all but clasped my hands in that gesture of half thanks, half prayer. I’ve often wondered whether we need something like that here in Cirencester. It may or may not be the answer, but if another local business ends up having to close and cites the Market Place regeneration as a cause, then we will have serious cause to rethink. The Market Place should make our town, not be breaking it one piece at a time. Fingers crossed that we don’t have to read another commercial obituary in the pages of our local paper.

The magnificent seven – for location

 

The Black Horse, Amberley. Luscious views over the Stroud valley.

The Lock Cafe in Stroud. A canal-side haven.

The Crown at Frampton Mansell. Cotswold bucolic splendour

So you are not content with good food, quality coffee and luscious cakes. You want somewhere that will feed your eyes and soul too. Green pastures, shimmering water and verdant valleys dotted with cute stone cottages, plumes of blue smoke rising from their chimneys…Not a problem, in our picturesque region – all you need to do is know where to go – and we are glad to point you in the direction of a few beauty spots we treasure…

1. The Crown at Frampton Mansell. A delightful traditional pub with excellent food and a lively atmosphere, perched on a beauty spot with remarkable views and a sunny terrace. True bucolic splendour.
2. The Black Horse in Amberley. A pub full of character, just off the spectacular Minchinghampton common, set in the enchanting village of Amberley. the terraced garden has amazing views over the Stroud Valley. Well frequented by the local rural elite!
3. The Upper Lock Cafe in Stroud. A charming, cosy hideaway cafe with personality, an organic vibe and a canal-side setting. Lovely cakes and healthy salads!
4. The Campden Coffee Co in Chipping Campden. Set in lovely Chipping Campden, one of the jewels of the Cotswolds, Campden Coffee Co is light and bright – a lovely relaxed environment where you can relax over a decent coffee and some delicious cakes and snacks.
5. The Bell at Sapperton. A refined pub and restaurant serving excellent food in a  charming village location with a delightful garden area. A top choice with the Cotswold elite!
6. Gusto in Cheltenham. In fashionable Montpellier, the Italian inspired cafe serves tasty food in the leafy part of town, overlooking the park and next to some of the best boutiques for some choice shopping!
7. The rooftop restaurant at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon. Fancy some refreshments before or after your Shakespeare fix in Stratford? The rooftop restaurant at the Royal Shakespeare Company affords great views over the river Avon and is perfect for your pre-theatre dining or indeed for a post-shopping treat! Elegant surroundings and food alike.

The Wednesday Whinge

Bath Gate Place Retirement Flats

Remember the TH White garage opposite St. James’ Place? Weren’t you glad when the second hand car lot was vacated? At last, we all thought, something nice will be put up, and when it was announced it was to be retirement flats, it seemed perfect. Now however, having seen the edifice itself, one might be forgiven for thinking there may be a curse on that prime spot in Cirencester’s historical centre, that it is somehow in every architect’s blind spot. It is a stone’s throw from the pastoral beauty of Cirencester Park, yet sentenced to architectural inadequacy. The quasi Neo fascist architectural style is such that one half expects to find political insignia carved into some of the stonework.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the retirement flats.  In fact, I think there is something of a laid back, relaxed feeling about them, a contemplative aura that lends them an air of serenity. I have seen some great examples too: glass-fronted with wooden deck extensions, surrounded by well-tended gardens with flower borders and neatly-clipped hedges. I have to admit I looked at them with longing, poetic images of hazy, sunny days spent strolling across parks dancing in my head.

Yet, the recently unveiled edifice does not whet your appetite for early retirement. The artist’s impression that was on display there did a fine job of painting a serene picture of a modern, yes, but tasteful building that could conceivably have fitted in with its surroundings. The reality, alas, is different: a case of so near, but yet so far. The first time I caught sight of it as I drove past it on the one-way system, I was genuinely surprised to see a building so at odds with its environment and also with what seemed to have been promised. It appears washed out and soulless, and rather than retiring, makes one wish I were working in the building across the road.

A more congruous building could have been achieved by mimicking the local stone, colours and style, without impacting the cost much, surely. Instead, the pallid, grey, smooth surfaces don’t speak of rural setting or Roman heritage – despite the fact that the name – ‘Bath Gate Place’ – is an attempt to pay homage to Cirencester’s Roman ancestry. You may be thinking “but what about the office block opposite? Isn’t that just as bad? Well, no. The SJP building opposite Bath Gate Place retirement flats may be modern in style but it is at least a fine example of its type; the glass frontage reflects its surroundings, the stone is a much softer hue, and the landscaping softens its sharp contours so that despite there being two of them, they maintain a discretion that somehow works.

The retirement flats in the Abbey Grounds have a much more pleasing effect, as they blend in with their low profile and traditional materials, without jarring with their surroundings.

The one potential saving grace is that the landscaping is yet to be finished – maybe that will make the difference. We shall see. Let us hope this is not the start of a new trend of misguided additions to the town. While we may not like the edifice, we do still wish all who reside there nothing but the very best, and if new to the town we add a sincerely hearty welcome.