Claudia brings Finnish sunshine to Ashford

Up early and off to Ashford today to see Pat and Maureen with Lorraine. Also Claudia, Lorraine and (surprisingly, by extension, my niece) was over from Finland for work. She added time on to see Pat and Maureen. I am very fond of Claudia. She is a ray of sunshine, she gave us a present of Finnish sweets she called marmalades and Lorraine gave her some earrings she had bought.

Claudia and I walked off to the fish and chip shop for Pat and Maureen and went for a short walk while waiting for the fish and chips. So much has happened in recent years. I was impressed to learn she is now an engineer, designing systems that moisturise the paper going through mills so that they perform better as cardboard. She told me that her secret was that she was lazy, and so liked to find the simplest way to do things. But she is clearly a bit of a boffin, and is sent by her company to other countries because of her excellent English. She is living with her partner Joonas, and Kasper his little boy, and while she has barely changed to look at her, she is grown up now -- without losing her cheeky side. Got home with the fish and chips (for her and Pat and Maureen) and she had to answer all the questions again from Lorraine. 

Also some planning of Pat's ninetieth birthday lunch going on.

Maureen and Claudia get on very well, bringing out the playfulness and Claudia going to go to the pub with Pat and his pals tonight to play darts. Lorraine and I took her to The Outlet, where Lorraine and Claudia did lots of looking in shops together. Made everyone smile that Claudia was looking for very sensible clothes rather than the high heels and short skirts of yesteryear, although she barely looks any different. They had a lovely bonding time together, and I lurked outside the shops or looked at men's stuff. 

Back home, and fond farewells with Pat and Maureen, and big hugs to Claudia and we drove home westward into the setting sun, listening to music. 

Below... Cross with myself that I didn't get a photo of Lorraine and Claudia together. But Claudia sent us a selfie of her with Pat and Maureen. Plus another photo of Pat I took in front of his roses.