Yup – another nicely busy week while H is, yes, still away on the boat. Mind you, after hearing that one of his three close chums on board, David, got so seasick that he threw up for the first time in 42 YEARS (!!!!), I am all the more delighted that I am home and on stable ground…
Headed into town on Monday to meet my brother Rick, his eldest Jess and her two smalls, Lettie & Polly, ostensibly to watch the Changing of the Guard. They however, were not interested in the tunes that the marching band pumped out ('what is that song? what is this song?) despite them actually playing Lady Gaga and other pop toons among their surprisingly varied repertoire.
The playground was definitely much more exciting, though less so for poor Mads who had to wait outside it with me/Rick as dogs were not allowed. But good to catch up with R & Jess, and looking forward to seeing Niece 3 Abbie with her hubby Nick in a couple of weeks' time.
From the very young on Monday, it was then time to see my slightly older chums on Wed, for our usual afternoon tea at Maureen's care home. Maureen was on great form this week, appearing delighted to see us (though we are never too sure who she thinks we are!) and scoffing 3 Florentines, 2 brownies and a lot of strawberries alongside 2 coffees – not sure that boded well for later in the day…
It was time for me to have a go at cutting / butchering her hair again, as she won't let the home hairdresser do it – I even tried looking at YouTube videos on how to do a better job, but it was a borderline pass for the front and sides and an abject fail for the back, which despite my best efforts varied from a high crop in one place to some mullet-style edging, oh dear… Good job she often wears a hat indoors. I also brought hammer and hanging tools in to move 4 pictures in her room – 3 that had been hung ridiculously to the left of the wall and a 4th that had come off its hook some time ago and it had not been replaced. Always annoying when someone does a task but does such a crap thoughtless job – because they think the residents won't notice – so I did it again.
Friday was then the surprise 60th birthday get together for Mary Greenham at her tennis club. I played hockey with Mary at Wimbledon HC about 30 years ago and just love the fact that we are still friends, plus there were about 7 other ex Wombles who could get there too, as well as heaps of tennis chums from her 5 (!) clubs and her hubby Jon. Someone had put together a video of friend messages which was v funny and Mary clearly loved it!
Straight from Oxted, it was time to head to the cottage for lovely weekend – as always – there. Had a really nice evening outdoors with Ross, Janine, a large bbq chicken and side dishes from the garden – delish. All overseen by the gigantic cottage hollyhocks… We then hit the heights of Chichester Festival Theatre on Sat, but the show was unusually crap (Choir – a musical – don't do it) so it was back to the doggies and cheese & biscuits.
Had a lovely bbq lunch on Sun with my old school friend Fiona and her hubby, plus Nicola who had been in Fiona's class at Tiffins, and their fellas. Only the 38 years to catch up on since I had last seen Nicola..
All in all, a mega busy week and I'm now posting this in the last few minutes before Mark & Charlie's dog Lottie, arrives for a 2 night stay. Always bizarre when Charlie's identical twin drops her off – they are the absolute spit of each other and even speak the same – have to keep telling myself 'this is George'!
And Pam, plus Finn the dog, is arriving late afternoon – more feet and paws than the house has seen for a while, wish me luck! x