The Annual Helens Trip

Just back from my annual get together with Helen Tebay and Helen Vickery, my Catz uni chums, unsurprisingly known to me as ‘the Helens’.

We headed down to Fruity’s (Helen V’s) family house in Dorset, for a dose of back to the 1970’s (you’ve gotta love that hallway carpet!) and back to 1987 as well, the year that we all met in Cambridge. Always a joy to have such a fabulous friendship still going strong, nearly 40 years later!

Mind you, we didn’t push the boat out or do all that much, given the mega heat and the fact they were both pooped after a hard year teaching, as ever. But we did make it down to Christchurch beach for a sunbathe and several swims – plus of course an ice cream – my favourite butterscotch one is always a total winner.

And spent lots of time in the big garden there, chatting, reading, sunbathing and even knocking out a game of boules – WHICH I WON – much to my great delight.

I committed the cardinal sin of forgetting to pack the cocktail shaker, but luckily managed to improvise with an empty jar or Uncle Ben’s something or other – which I did clean first – as it had a nice wide opening, big enough to get the ice cubes in. Hurrah! Various pink drinks ensued..

We watched various games of tennis, and somehow stayed awake for the football till 1am – a good job England somehow won. And pottered off in the car to Lymington, to wander the shops and buy some nice M&S bits for Fruity’s Mum who was coming a few days later, as a little thank you from us.

Just so nice to laugh, chat, sit in happy silence and spend a good chunk of time together – bloody luvverly.

And, for the first time in many years, I’m quite liking the fact that I have now lost over three stone, and actually look half decent in a photo now. It’s an absolute joy to rediscover the person that I used to be, and to feel much better in myself. So – happy days on that front, and long may it last!

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