Making the best of ‘just another day’.

Long story short. I define a ‘good day’ as making a difference to the lives of other people no matter whether in a small way or a large way.

I thought today, Saturday, is as good a day as any to put this to the test not that I need to but just to have the intention of making a difference to other people and enjoying the dialogue. The implication is that both the giver and the receiver  benefit from the engagement.

Today we went to Frome in response to an advert in the local paper ‘ bike jumble sale next month’ which was to be held at the station approach collection of buildings which, for those of you who have not been before, it is her far more interesting collection of attractions and artisan features that you might imagine.

Just turn into the road that indicates the Frome station and park somewhere . You have two hours. It is almost an alternative community in its own right. Apart from the famous bakery that produces artisan products albeit at premium prices there are other food and artistic outlets.

The £4 custard tart

I have to be prepared to spend money on quality and in the Rye Bakery wwhich locals will know to be famous and high in quality I spent £4 yes 4 pounds, on a custard tart.

In the event it was so substantial that it was more like a meal and I realised how much we compromise on buying food that looks good but is in fact designed just to please the eye. Cheaper food must contain chemicals and boosters to make it look real but actually it is an assault on the  digestive system.

CHIPS TO DIE FOR

I ventured further in the building to find a pop-up restaurant that was serving ‘aware food’ where the constituents of a meal were presented in a holistic fashion, that’s not quite what I want to say but that will have to do.

I saw some chips advertised that had been cooked in lard and sunflower oil.  For this privilege I had to pay £5, a price point that pertains with most arty food but when the chips came they were crisp, dry, delicious, and without any after effects due to poor fat. I said to the cook that they had set the bar high and that I would never see chips in the same light again.

I hope he took this as a compliment because it was meant as such.  I also had an ale which was charged at £6 a pint but I could only manage a half pint so for £8 I had lovely chips and an ice cold pale  ale. Lovely job.

Where good food meets art,

I told the server that the strap line for the service outlet could be ” when food meets art”. He was a trifle overwhelmed at this but took this as a complement. I’m very encouraged that even in this day and age of compromise there are people still willing to represent quality and service and in these last two examples I received them in spade-fulls.

We went to have a coffee in the outside area and I greeted a lady who was on her own by nodding and making a pleasantry about the day. She was ambivalent in her response so I told her that this was just a friendly greeting and there was no hidden agenda.

I added with my dry sense of humour that it was quite dangerous to greet strangers because you did not know what was going to happen. I noticed that she could not take this on board and she returned to her texting. I don’t worry about people’s reactions anymore because if you put it out it plants a seed or it does not.

Off to from town centre itself and the car park adjacent to the market’s place and to the Cheese and Grain all purpose meeting hall. Parking at £1.70 per 2 hours is not bad.

We had a look around the market which was partly food and I wanted to buy a half Pitta for Francoise. She wanted to know what the constituents were and the server, a man of Moroccan origin, had a great sense of humor and said that although it did not look much she would find it enough for her needs.

This is the conversation that you don’t have you know large food chain or supermarket. I spoke to him about the £4 custard tart and said that it was small but had great nutritional value. In other words I was supporting him for something, the half pitta,  that cost £6.

Is a sellers job to entertain?

To someone at a Cheese stall I said that his prime job was to entertain people and food was secondary and you couldn’t get away with this in a supermarket, if you could find anyone to talk to at all. He knew exactly what I was saying and said he tries to give a full service to people and if that means listening to someone’s jokes or anecdotes then that is what you do.

Lady in Black

Next while walking along the street I noticed a cafe worker drinking coffee outside an establishment we I started what turned out to be a bizarre conversation about how we present to the world. I said I found her all-black outfit interesting because she was inviting us to compare the goodness that came out of her heart i.e. her soul, with the deceiving appearance of the black outfit.

I said I thought she was a mobile work of art and we as human beings had a duty not to decorate the place but to make statements, even if they are controversial, to the people we meet even though it might involve winding people up or momentarily upsetting them.

Taking with complete strangers

As my readers will know I do make direct comments and observations to complete strangers but it is very rarely that they take it badly and often joining in with a joke if there is one. The Britishness within us teaches us to be self-contained and aloof but the universal spirit within us should teach us to share everything even if the starting point is untidy

Next off to an art exhibition, this being the first day of Photo Frome, where various trends political and otherwise are given exposure.  I said outrageously that it was the duty of every visitor to entertain the volunteers who were supervising the exhibition, in this case the Round Tower, and said that we are either a robot or a living art instillation and you can’t be half one and half the other.

I’ve got beyond worrying how people react to the rather extreme things I say. I know that my job is to plant seeds which I do we have great regularity each and every time I go out in public even if it is a ‘ you are valuable’ seed. People seldom get recognized although I’m sure this is the basic need for the human being.

The Black Swan Arts Centre

I did not know that was the first day of a new exhibition exhibition featuring work by artists in their teen years and I noticed that most of the work was NFS not for sale. I would have bought one or two on the spot had I had the chance .

There was a work that I thought was rather overpriced, that of a deer’s head at £135. I said to the semi-interested volunteer who was on his mobile phone at the time in the room that some of the artist price their  work a bit high and then he said to me, pointing to the opposite wall, have a look at that work there, third from the leeft.

I saw a simple black and white pencil drawing priced at £1,000,000  I saw the joke and that was part of the experience of the exhibition.

A Rejuvenated Mells Garden

Off to Mells where we found the outdoor Tea and pizza cafe and Gardens were open and there were a great number of people entering. I discovered that It has recently been taken over by a celebrity couple though I had never heard of them. See a brief account in the local paper.

I complemented them on the transformation of the property and I cannot recommend too much to local people that if you are within traveling distance of the Mells Tea Garden BA11 3PN you make another visit. If you visited last year you saw a different garden.  It must have taken most of the winter to clear and clean it. They have put a new entrance in the wall so that people can have their tea overlooking a valley and sitting in peace.

Said one of the owners “”We can build on the hard work of previous custodians and create something very special. Restoring architectural heritage and creating new in harmony with nature is such a joy and privilege. I have found my nirvana on my doorstep.”  I said that if the energies are right then people will come in without knowing why they come.

I have not mentioned all my escapades today but I can absolutely guarantee that if you go out into the world wanting to touch other people in the Spirit of love and caring you will be uplifted and rewarded until the whole thing becomes natural.

When I go out on my own I never feel lonely because I know that the day will be full of people that I can touch in some way and I cannot over recommend this state of mind.

Francoise has to put up with me stopping at random moments and speaking to people but seeing the success, she’s getting the idea herself and doing the same.