Another inspiiring couple of days, but I enjoy writing less when it is retrospective like this. Playing catch up somehow doesn't capture the ebbs and flows of life.
Bamboos. Queensway.
new for us, and a spontaneous inviattion to dinner with Lesley and Mike to celebrate his birthday. When she ordered champagne as we sat down I should have foreseen that we were in for an expensive evening...
I wrote only a couple of days ago about that disappointment at going out for a meal that you could have cooked as well yourself.
Such was this occasion, although the company was fantastci and gave us all a chance to catch up properly. I hope we can build on this. Still sounds weird to hear Trx talking so excitedly about her Uni life in Plymouth.
She and Lesley spent a year there together and were reuntied quite by chance four years ago when Lesley phoned out of the blue during thhe period when Trx was a Childminder and Joseph was first born.
We were joined by their equally affluent and amiable neighbours Rob and Cerryn (??), although I laid awake last night feeling that I had been flirted with alittle too much. Lots of whispering between Cerryn and Lesley during the meal, and a crazy wink and wave when I dropped them at home after midnight.
Little wonder I am tired now.
Lesley paid!! Crazy - we offered to share but she insisted, and I always make a point of letting people who insist on paying get there will.
No change from £200!!!!! For six people...
Very disappointing that I don't feel I enjoyed £35 woth of Vietnamese cuisine and hospitality.

Made up for it today though by indulging in a little spending myself, picking up £200 of backdated Tax Credit from the business account and buying my girls some new clothes. Fabulous thick and colourful winter coats, and some amazing ivory dresses from Debenhams for The Wedding.
It would be good to know the date...
One or two of these bits and bobs (inc a couple of boleros) were in the sale but I feel its money well spent and I really enjoyed my time in town with them. They don't ever get new things and have no idea what shopping is about.
ALice is especially funny. Flo has her mother's grace and elegance, natural deportment and can 'wear' beautiful things well. Alice has nothing of this, and even in the changing rooms I had to pick her up twice for sitting in her dress on the floor! She looked stunning of course though, and it was quite a proud, emotional time.
Trx even likes the dresses I chose (hurrah!) and I think we are now looking forward to flouncing Stan up in the same way.
Met Kate and Fin in the cafe and shared tea and buns.
They came round her after lunch to play with Stan this afternoon - which he loved, especially as I didn't realise at the time Ollie and Celia had been here all morning. I took LC out for a walk (biting cold wind on that bridge!) but she refuses to have a daytime sleep these days, and met Lizzie with baby Iris in the park. Too cold to talk for long, but we'll catch up tomorrow. Good to see things settlign down for her after a difficult year.
Then at 4 Mrs W came in with two bin bags full of games that they have cleared out of the loft. Fantabulous.
Ou rhouse is becoming quite a refuge and drop-in centre at last, which is something we have both talked about developing over the past few months.

Its great (most of the time) to come home to madness, chaos and Other People's Children, never quite knowing who is with us for dinner. Often of course there's no-one here at all - just a note explaining where they've gone and would I have tea ready when they return.

Also Friday, phone call from the insurance company acknowledging receipt of my claim for the bike and £250 of accessories and clothing. The bike itself will be delivered to the office on Tuesday with all the bits and bobs, but I'll have to "cash settle" for the clothing and buy it myself first. Quite a result really.
Fast, efficient and no questions asked.