Girl’s Day out

Aside

Overheard at lunch.

Elderly Lady: Did you not fancy a second husband Doris?

Doris: (Snort) I didn’t fancy the first!

We had been promised a glorious day but it was overcast to start with. Serving coffee in the car to the four of us can be a nightmare with wind and rain but the sun came out and from then on it was summer all the way. After we had finished gazing at the sea and shooting the breeze we set off to Williton and then West Quantoxhead. We were early so crossed the busy road and walked passed two horses (one blinkered- why?) and entered St Ethelred’s beautiful Church, when I realised I had forgotten my camera.

Margaret, who is a fairy tale grandmother, went round making notes to organise a quiz for her Chinese grandchildren who she plans to take round the church when they visit from Scotland. As we walked slowly back to the Windmill Inn where we were to have lunch I mused aloud how we had been going on jaunts now since 1986 and how they had changed over the years;. the drives getting less adventurous and the walks shorter. What would we do when we felt driving was beyond us? Jackie – the eldest – in her eighties said firmly,

‘We’ll go to each other’s homes and order in Wiltshire foods. They’re very good.’

Margaret said,

‘We’ll go down to the town for a meal and have a taxi back.’

As both Joy and Jackie have birthdays in August we decided to fix two more dates whilst we were still mobile.

Over lunch we found we all suffered from a surplus of piles of books allover the house. I found a box tucked away on one of the balconies and Margaret found a great pile in the airing cupboard. Apparently her husband had bought them from the dump and they were damp. Men!

Just one driving blip: I was parked on a steep slope so left it in first gear and then
did a double kangaroo when we left. How we laughed.

Back at home we enjoyed relaxing in the garden and had tea with my best china and the raspberry cream sponge cake that my French DIL always takes back to France. As the sun worked round to the bay trees MTL appears with some sparkling Cava and none of us wanted to hurt his feelings so we quaffed.

A votre sante!

Print and be Damned!

Aside

For a while now I have been unable to use my printer – Photo Smart - getting messages: the lid is open and there is no paper when it wasn’t and there was. Then the paper would get snarled up. When one of our techie sons couldn’t fix it I decided to cut my losses - ditch it and get a laser which should cope with tackling my wordy manuscript. Imagine my delight when I found amongst a load of bunff a three year insurance I had bought with the printer which was still valid.

After advice from techie son I decided to get an HP Laser 1005 particularly as it has a good sized paper shelf. I discovered the cartridges cost £50 to £60 and as I felt the original printer had been a duff one decided I should suggest they swap my printer for a laser and throw in a spare cartridge. At one time I had three very helpful assistants but it was all in Colin’s hands and Colin resolutely stayed out of shot. Mustn’t grumble; in the end I paid £30 which covered my laser printer – a spare cartridge AND a further three year's insurance. I felt quite pleased

Very slowly I have put it together and it works and is much simpler than the original, which did all sorts of stuff I didn’t need. 500 sheets of paper at half price from W H Smith and I’m good to go.

Tomorrow is girl’s day out and I’m driving. MTL suggested as the garden was looking nice, fountain flowing and forecast brilliant that I should invite the girls back for tea in the garden so I’ve been watering, moving pots, sweeping paths and washing furniture when I should have been cleaning the car. Great idea though darling!