Bruno’s Bistro and The New American President

Today we staved off the winter blues with a visit to what is fast becoming our favourite lunch spot – Bruno’s Bistro in Saint Savin. Stephen, having just returned from performing with the 'City of London Sinfonia' at the Cartegena International Music Festival in Columbia, South America, was hankering for some Froggie nosh, whilst I was determined to have an outing having spent what has felt like several weeks snowbound in our remote rural hamlet. While Stephen basked in 35 degree tropical climes we here in La Faye endured minus 12 temperatures that caused burst pipes, huge inconvenience and general frozen misery. The first lovely snowfall – that quiet beauty and stillness – quickly turned to ice, causing the lane leading from our house to become lethal and pipes to freeze and burst. While Stephen saw sloths and Iguanas and toucans of many varied beautiful colours I saw one colour only – and that was red.

However, a good meal can sooth even the most savage breast and indeed Bruno came up trumps. A salad composed of fine fresh leaves, pine kernels and sesame seeds was garnished with slices of his own house-smoked haddock. Very tasty indeed. For main course we sampled an excellent confit de canard with fried potatoes and broccoli. Dessert – a rich combination of vanilla, meringue and caramel icecream bathed in a thick caramel and chocolate sauce. Scrumptious.

After teaching tonight at the laboratory I look forward to coming home and watching coverage of the inauguration of the incoming President of The United States - Mr Barack Obama. Along with millions of other fans and supporters we wish this new President much luck and grace and sit quietly in awe that such a defining, inspiring and hopeful event has passed within our lifetime.