Lunch Out

I had a glorious lie-in this morning. Yesterday was a late celebration for Margaret’s birthday, it was my turn to drive and as usual I was a bag of nerves getting ready. I had booked a table for lunch at the White Horse in Washford but I had to decide how to amuse the other three between 10.30am and 12.30am with weather that made serving coffee out of the boot of the car an ordeal.


My brainwave was to go down through the town and park at The Factory Shop - a favourite of most of our visitors. In a rare dry spell we had coffee first and a long chat sitting in the car and then ambled into the store. This was a great success and at 11. 45 I suggested we should wend our way. A pair of fur- lined boots, a pair of slippers and three sweaters were bought and the prices elicited smiles all round.


Margaret was looking particularly perky in a new red coat with a smart funnel neck. The last time we met she was devastated as the house chain she was in had broken and all seven couples toppled over like dominoes. Then after days of uncertainty suddenly it was mended again but everybody decided they didn’t want move before Christmas.


‘Margaret when will it be really, really certain it is all going to go through?’

‘On the day we all move and we all have to move at the same time.’

‘And when will that be?’

‘We don’t know - possibly the second week in January.’

Cripes! The good news is Margaret reckons this won’t be our last lunch out.

They seemed pleased that I had chosen the White Horse – it’s always fun to watch the animals in the field by the car park and the roaring fire was very welcome as we were made to feel.

The landlord looked dubious when I asked if there was any exciting non – alcoholic drink for the driver but he found a berry drink which was better than the eternal diet coke. We all began to relax and settled in for a couple of hours of eating, drinking and talking – all of which we are quite good at. There was plenty of time for us to unburden ourselves and catch up with news.
We don’t do texting and Margaret - with all her house related doings kept finding an envelope shape on her mobile. She did read the instructions as to how to down load it but in the end asked her daughter to do it.

‘Mum you’ve got 60 messages’
If you have elderly P’s with mobiles make sure they understand texting before you text them. It doesn’t come naturally to us.

Delicious chilli con carne, naughty garlic bread and courgette crumble with brie followed by treacle sponge and lemon brulee were respectively enjoyed and then as customary, the birthday girl went to powder her nose whilst we paid the bill. Even I was feeling mellow now so I invited then back for tea. The driving was fine except for one moment in the car park when I noticed an unfamiliar red light and found I was moving off with the brake on. I blame the berry drink.

By the time the girls left we all had broad smiles on our faces and I felt grateful for their friendship and unfailing support.