We went to Healdsburg yesterday with Guy & Donna. A rather smart town but boasts, on the outskirts, the biggest Salvation Army charity shop/outlet that we have ever seen. People bring unwanted furniture, clothes & bric a brac as donations to the charity, get a receipt for the estimated value and can then write it off against tax! The public can then come and root through and purchase all sorts of bargains. As we had helped Guy & Donna clear out their shed yesterday they had 'stuff' to donate but also needed a bed frame for one of their grandsons's bed so instead of paying out 100 dollars or so for a new one they found one for 50 dollars. There was all sorts there - pianos, couches, beds, dressers - even old cars and boats - you name it, they've got it. After their successful purchase we went into Healdsburg proper to a really nice restaurant for lunch. Peter & I had fish & chips, just for the hell of it and were very pleasantly surprised. It was superb and was served up on grease proof paper that had been printed up to emulate a Victorian London newspaper. Very novel.
Donna & I wanted to go 'baby' shopping for Zachary so two very bored men trailed around after us while we goo-d aaarh-ed and finally purchased.
It was very hot in Healdsburg so after a quick visit to the local supermarket, we were quite glad to return to Guy's Chevvy truck and return to Occidental where it was much cooler.
We were so full after our lunch that dinner was postponed until another day and we just supped beer with cheese and biscuits as the stars came out.
Sitting outside of an evening is something we have really missed in the UK in the last couple of years.