Coffee with…

Potato crisps, mint sausage rolls, cheesy bits with a spicy flavour, mini chocolate éclairs and Joy had made a strudel which was so much nicer than Christmas cake. Although Margaret and Malcolm will be leaving in January (it can’t all go wrong again) they are doing Christmas for their children and grand- children and I admired the prettiest piece of seasonal décor I have seen; a gold tree with tiny lights placed on a mirror Margaret had spotted at a boot sale which fitted exactly a circular table she had and the table was scattered with tiny glass ornaments she had bought from Bastins - our El Cheapo store. Pure Glass Menagerie.

Margaret had a proper stable but I preferred my actors and why have a glitter ball in a stable? Margaret said it was probably the moon but in a stable?? Poor Jackie was bruised from a fall – can someone please find out how to stop terrible cramp – but spirits were high and we reminisced on our various traumas over 24 years of friendship and how each of us have had our load lightened, in turn. by the quartet.

Malcolm popped his head round the door; and was offered strudel.

‘Has it got nuts?’

Did he have an allergy? But no…

‘I like my nuts,’ he said helping himself to a luscious piece.

It was sherry instead of mulled wine – must have got it wrong but there’s plenty of time yet and we have another date after Christmas.