KEITH AND HIS HAREM(S)
SUNDAY
Yesterday, Mandy and I wiled away the day together while Keith went to the Isle of Wight with a group of U3A friends. We had a “pub lunch” together and I chatted to a couple of locals … of the four legged variety … while Mandy spent her time far more intellectually and found out why two lads came in muddy and dripping (there was a very welcome downpour while they were playing rugby and neither had brought a change of clothing), ordered our meals and we generally put the world to rights.
By the time we left, the rain had dried up and we went back to her house - where son George was drying out his golf clubs and bag, plus clothes - for a very similar reason.
It HAS been very dry and until then everyone’s grass had been turning a lighter shade of hay - but another downpour overnight has done the trick and the gardens (and most grass) is looking much happier. I haven’t found it unbearably hot, but many of the locals have.
Meanwhile Keith and his friends hardly saw any rain and even went on a 5 mile walk once they reached their destination.
This morning, with initial thoughts of possibly going to Henley, we accepted Mandy’s offer to go to her for breakfast instead - bacon, eggs, tomatoes and avocados - and then successfully wiled away the time, taking Cruse 🐕 for a walk, checking out some property that interested her and walking past the “Men’s Shed” where Keith spends quite a lot of time.
Meanwhile, her friend Robbie “let slip” that he played scrabble on line - but not just how good he is at it - so I foolishly ‘signed up’ for a couple of games and future challenges which I may learn to regret. That old saying “marry in haste and repent at leisure” springs to mind - but this commitment may not be quite so permanent, particularly since I seem to be having trouble getting on to Keith’s wifi today for some unknown reason. It was working yesterday. But it IS a perfect excuse!
MONDAY
We made it to Henley today and had a wander up and down the Thames. There is an awful lot of money tied up to its banks - the mooring costs alone would be deterrent enough for me. It’s lovely visiting old haunts and remembering past “cruises” on the Thames, but this whole visit is (in my book, at least) more about catching up with people and enjoying THEM. (Or perhaps it was because I still can’t forget the words of the captain, the last time I went on a Thames boat trip. That must be 15 years ago now, but I still think of it. “By the time you run yourself a glass of water, it will have been through 8 sets of kidneys before yours”.) Probably 9 by now?
So we’re back at Keith’s house now - resting our weary feet (and in his case, his weary eyes after all that driving) waiting to go out to a local production of “Much ado about nothing” with three DIFFERENT female friends shortly.
That’s octogenarians for you!!!