January in Paignton

So we are in Devon.  Over this trip I have drunk more beer and more tea than I have for a long time, both good.  The weather has also improved since New Year so that, although cloudy a lot of the time, it has been fairly mild and dry and we've enjoyed walking around the seafront with Evie.  But the main reason for being here is to see Isla and we have had a lovely day today, first making lunch with her and then visiting the marble museum and shop in the old glassworks and pottery in Bovey Tracy.  The countryside on the southern fringes of Dartmoor is lovely even in the gloom.  The biggest unknown in visiting Isla and Charmaine was whether Evie would fit in with the two dogs they now have, but there were no worries there, despite a good deal of excitement and a bit of noise from the two residents, Daisy and Duke.  Duke was supposed to be a miniature poodle but turns out to be - probably - an apricot poodle/lab cross, quite bouncy but very aimiable.  Evie just gets on with it and eats anyone else's food if we are rash enough to leave it within reach!

Out and about in Paignton this evening we were reminded that Britain is a dog-intolerant place.  As we walked round various bars and pubs looking for a pint and something to eat, again and again we found 'No Dogs' on the doors.  To be fair, in the Nag's Head in Great Malvern Evie was welcomed with open arms, and Derbys pubs had no problems, but as a rule anywhere serving food here will exclude dogs, while most of the restaurants we go to in France happily accept them.  Luckily the weather was kind to us and we could sit outside, but I can't for the life of me see why they are so curmudgeonly in this tourist resort.  The lady who served us said she would be bringing it up at the Wetherspoons staff meeting - good to know that they actually have a place where staff feel able to raise contentious issues.  Also the Greene King Abbot I drank there was up with the several good bitters I've enjoyed this trip!

I'll expand this post and add photos tomorrow and Monday.