Mike and Zina in Seaford

Whew what a scorcher etc. ... Nothing better on a hot day than making an intense fire and cooking meats on it like a man.

The morning involved running about like a maniac, sweating cobs cleaning the barbecue and sweeping the patio while Lorraine zipped off the supermarket, and fashioned excellent salads and coleslaw and so on. We walked to Seaford Library, where we met Mike and Zina, and then spent the whole afternoon in the back garden, shooting the breeze. I did a simple barbecue of chicken stuffed with lemon, tarragon from the pot outside the back door, and Kenny farm garlic, plus a dozen sausages. Lorraine excelled herself with new potatoes and salads, and home made pickles and sauerkraut and slaw and bread and so on. Great to hang out again with Mike and Zina who having moved to the Brighton Marina are now just a bus ride away.

I showed them the back garden, and apologised for the state of the lawn, which Mike ridiculed me for some time about. Zina toured about the house by Lorraine. Heard about the move, and Mike's change of jobs and so on. There's nothing like combining work stress with home moving stress.  Hopefully resolving. Sounds like the move to Brighton is actually a major life change for them both. Zina already loving being by the sea and they are not missing London at all. Mike was saying the coast here was reminding him of California a bit. Lots of chat, learned more about the Russian datcha from Zina. Chiming with Steve's experience of them he told us about one night.

It was all over too soon. A lovely afternoon, to down a few cold beers (ladies lapping up wine) with friends. All well.