Art show

On Sunday drove up to the very north of Virginia - to Bluemont on the Snickersville Turnpike. Beautiful drive up through hunting country - I wasn't expecting to see such things as dry stone walls and sheep dog trials as I went along.

Went to stay with  Annabel, the former Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Trust who I had been introduced to by a friend in Dorset. She was born and brought up in Zimbabwe, but obviously has been banned now. She had very kindly arranged for me to go to a lunch in Millwood and then an art show in the Burwell-Morgan Mill in the same village. Very jolly lunch - lots of hunt prints and table mat hunt scenes etc - does seem to be a popular theme - and then the art show was showcasing 300 local artists. Again, quite a few dogs and foxes I have to admit. The mill was built in 1785 - so whilst not suggesting that Alexander actually visited that one as it was a bit out his way on the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains - it was very interesting to see around it. Still working.

Annabel very kindly put me up - she is writing a book on her work for the Zimbabwe Democracy Trust and is also setting up a retreat for soldiers who have returned from battle and are receiving treatment at rehabilitation centres in Washington. She showed me where it was going to be - a beautiful area tucked just on the foothills.

Came back a different way - had met an artist called Winslow who told me where to go. It was beautiful this morning - the leaves are really starting to change now. Just nipped into an antiques centre on the way back - very nice collection of pewter. Sneak some out if you want to make some money!

Deer everywhere at the moment - coming right down to the library at Kenwood.