under another sun

Lorraine lying low with a chesty cold, although rallied magnificently to prepare a gorgeous vegetable lasagne.  I went to the pharmacy to collect Pat's medications. They are hopelessly disorganised and I had to wait an hour for them to be ready. Told to sit on the wall outside for 15 minutes (this is after having queued for 20 mins already, and that someone would come out to let us know it was ready. Chatted to two people who were in the same boat... Turns out that they did not come out to call us, and that the names of the prescription were simply muttered behind the counter. When I barged in with the woman I had been talking to half an hour or so later, they were still not ready. Okay for me because I had nothing else to do, but I pity the poor old folk who are treated like this. Then to the post office where a bloke was telling the owners about secret shoppers who were doing the rounds asking which was the cheapest packet of fags. I finally made the woman there smile, when I ask...

My birthday. First thing I saw was an ecard from Mum and Mas, involving a cute cat. Then our own cute cats... Lorraine brought me not one but two cups of tea in bed. Feeling a bit ancient this morning. Lorraine began discussing wills, as we had been talking about them for a while. Nine days from Seaford now. The countdown continues apace. Pat still coughing, and Maureen and Lorraine coughing now too. They all tested for covid but nobody was positive. Cards from Lorraine, and Pat and Maureen -- a recorded piano and voice rendition of Happy birthday from Robin and Nick, and from Dawn and Paul who had Maureen's address plus messages from Toby and Romy and Betty and James and Sam and Jade plus dozens of kind and lovely messages from friends during the day. A recording session with Robin at 10:30 this morning, which was fun. Lorraine made me a delicious sourdough bacon and egg sandwich. I spoke to Mum, and Anton. As did Bob, however this was during the big excitement of the day. The dra...

Lorraine and I up and off to Ashford to see Pat and Maureen, now mostly recovered from the nasty chest infection bug they had. We went to the Supermarket, where we all did some shopping. Maureen likes to scan as she goes, and so gave Pat a stern warning about putting things in without scanning them, which happened last time apparently. Then, provisions safely in the boot, we drove the short distance to The Blacksmiths for a remarkably nice slices of roast turkey (Lorraine had lamb) all washed down with a couple of pints of Harveys. Really excellent veggies and good value too. We sat in the bit where Pat plays darts on a Friday night. Home and we chilled out, and I even had a snooze. Maureen toasted crumpets with butter and honey, and showed us a whole collection of knitted figures she had made. Then a long drive home listening to the radio, before getting home in time to watch the new BBC version of War of the Worlds, which I found very irritating as it introduced all kinds poorly ...

A fast journey to Ashford and we were there in an hour, listening to Desert Island Discs on Radio 4, with rugby referee Nigel Owens, in what turned out to be an inspiring show that had Lorraine and I glistening at the eyes as she drove. It was filled with passionate Welsh tunes, and ended with I am what I am . Before that was a really tense Archers omnibus. The Archers used to concern itself with chutney recipe controversies, to a backdrop of moos in the cowshed. Now its all mothers tearing stolen babies from the arms of psychotic kidnappers. Then we arrived at Pat and Maureen's for a cup of tea before Lorraine drove us to The Blacksmiths Arms, where we had some good quality soup and roast turkey, a great deal of vegetables, and the no-brainer choice of an excellent lemon meringue pie. Friendly in there, especially to Pat. Home and the luxury of a doze in the armchair. Having mentioned to Pat and Maureen about my desire to wear smarter clothes, and Pat offered me a pick from his...

Lorraine, Beth and I piled into the car and drove off to Ashford to see Pat and Maureen. A nice enough drive till Lorraine mentioned casually a few miles out of Ashford on the motorway that we might not have enough fuel to make it. We got petrol and made it. Collected Pat and Maureen and then off to The Blacksmiths Arms for a Sunday lunch and a few pints of Otter beer. I like this pub, which has a traditional feel to it, and being Kent has dried hops here and there. Had a nice time chatting with Pat and Maureen. This is Pat's pub and he goes there every Friday to play darts with a crew of blokes of all ages, which is a nice thing. Back home for fruitcake and cups of tea, and looking at a dozen or so photos of Maureen's family. I always like looking at family photos, and interesting to see one of Pat and Maureen in their younger days. Home then and dropped Beth off to Hove and we had a quiet evening. The news from Paris ghastly and brutal. Found myself feeling a bit nause...

Lorraine and I up fairly early and drove off to Kent today to see Pat and Maureen. Rainy day, with the spray from the road coating the windscreen all the time. We listened to the Kermode and Mayo 'wittertainment' podcast en route, thanks to a new plug in gadget Lorraine has got which turns the iPod into a radio signal the car radio can pick up. Off to have a nice Sunday lunch at a nearby pub called The Blacksmith's Arms with Pat and Maureen. A nice pub decorated with dried hops hung around like vines as is traditional in Kent. We all enjoyed a decent Sunday roast, homemade tomato soup, and a traditional bread and butter pudding for dessert. A really nice pint of Golden Sheep beer served there too. The waitress twice bringing a beer to the table and looking quizzically at me, Golden Sheep?  she'd say.  Yes that's me, I'd reply, fleecily. Maureen being funny as usual, talking about a Belgian brewery visit they made years ago, I've never seen so many chicken ...