All Behind!
In more ways than one, thanks to a sharp increase in calorie consumption over the festive season. I’m also behind in posting; I blame changing duvet covers by shaking them vigorously over the banisters. As a result my shoulder is playing up again and until the paracetamol kicks in I’m hors de combat.
It’s now a year since Margaret, the glue that held our quartet together, deserted us for a new life in Cheltenham. As expected she has settled in well, joined lots of organisations and thoroughly enjoys being close to daughters and grandchildren. Meanwhile we have tried to keep the flag flying but have been hampered by Joy’s invalid husband having problems and Joy a new knee fitted whilst Jackie has had a hernia repaired and MTL and I have had ‘an interesting time.’
Yesterday, for the first time for months we met up at Bistro 16, new to us, recommended and just at the bottom of the lane. It was friendly, hospitable, good wine and good home- cooked food. We chose variously ham, egg and bubble and squeak and gourmet, corned beef hash with sauté potatoes and veg. The third dessert was Passion fruit cream mousse. It was like old times and we pledged to do it monthly and made our next date.
Meanwhile Margaret has been having computer lessons and is now on line. We had a hysterical time trying to exchange e-mail addresses. Do you remember what it was like when you first started? Miraculously I got an e-mail to her which she promptly returned. I sent her a photo of yesterday, but must phone her to tell her how to open it.
We now have three phones, one in the hall, one in the family room and one in my office. I had got to the stage where if it meant running up or down a flight of stairs I didn’t answer, so life is much easier now – thanks to our Australian son. I still refuse to answer at meal-times but it encompasses an efficient answering machine which I had fun in customising.
Thick frost today, bright sunshine and the birds are singing their little heads off. Thank goodness I’ve got them plenty of fat balls.
19 comments:
Hello Pat. You're very fortunate to have such a good place to eat out 'just at the bottom of the lane'. We're rather spoilt for choice in our town (Indian, Chinese, several good pubs, and two decent coffee shops) but I don't think we've got anything quite like that. Actually, now I think about it, we do have a new place just outside town that we haven't tried yet. Must do so.
Regards, Mike and Ann.
Mike and Anne: I'm very much into 'use it or lose it' with local amenities. It's been recommended two or three times and I'm about to do the same to Karen the gardener.
With our trio's mobility problems it's ideal. I think the other two may have taxied home but I went chair shopping:)
Well, you have been busy so you are allowed to be behind...
Steady with the fat balls though...
Sx
Your last paragraph is weirdly poetic! Strip away the metaphors and it's wonderfully dark.
Scarlet: yeah that's what worries me.
UB: Old Filth just arrived. I'm looking forward to it - half way through Keef Richard's tome.
Soon Margaret will be reading your blog. Or is she, already?
Do I remember how it was when I first emailed? I hooked up to the net in 1998. OMG! It seems like ages now.
Lovely that you girls managed to get your monthly trysts back on again! I've a group of friends like that as well, although we probably don't have the mobility issues that yours do. They are all younger than me and I'm a mere 52 11/12!
I remember buying my first PC, in 1996, and delving head first into emailing and shopping online and all sorts of stuff. How cool that you and your friend have managed to get 'connected' too! I'm sure you'll both be whizzing along online in no time!!!
GG: no she hasn't yet read my blog but I've just had an e-mail and she got the photo I sent so we're going to be in constant touch. I have to say she is excellent and has written long letters by snail mail - unlike me. This is a vast improvement.
Ponita: Long may you avoid the mobility issues. It's crept up on the four of us over 25 years but at least we can still get out and about - more modestly.
I too have fat balls, but onto the birds! *Wheels away*!
Seriously they love them. Ours are in a Starling proof feeder!
My giggle for the morning. I too have Fat Balls but I don't feed our birds.
Glad your going to keep up the monthly Lunch, it is great idea !
Speaking of lunch the Crumble looked terrific.
cheers, parsnip
Sounds like your usual convivial lunch. The menu sounds good, too -- real "comfort" food.
Cheers.
John.G: a starling proof feeder I'd like to see. Photo? Could be I already have one, unknowingly.
Parsnip: don't encourage him!
In the interest of research I tasted all the puds.
Randall: that's what we need at our time of life:)
Bubble and squeak followed by that crumble would be my idea of lunch heaven.
Your euphemism, 'an interesting time' made me smile: that's the spirit!
Eryl: the question that leaps to mind: where do you put it Eryl?
Wish a had a little spot like that I could walk to. It's so nice to have a tight group of girlfriends to dine with on a regular occasion. It seems like it's impossible, sometimes, to organize these get togethers, but it's always worth the effort.
Keep it on your schedule!
So glad you had your gathering. Hope there aren't any more interferences to the monthly meetings :)
Jayne: four of us have done it for 25 years, then a year ago the driving force - the glue that bonded us together, moved away and I think we now realise how much we need to keep the friendship going.
Kim: fingers crossed - warmer weather and all that:)
The Sage is finally getting to grips with emailing. That is, replying to emails. He has yet to initiate them or open an attachment unaided, but it will come. I'm quite proud of him. I've also decided that he'd love an iPad, which will justify the cost of it....
Mind you, he'd better not love it too much, or it'll have to be his'n'hers iPads!
Z: I've been stroking my grandson's iphone - or whatever, today and decided it's not for me.
It would be a cold day in hell that I could ever get MTL to touch a computer although he enjoys observing from a distance.
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