The Last Suppers

Our last week has not been without trauma but what else would you expect.  The week has been dominated by toilet troubles but there have been some highs, as well as some lows.  Phil went to see Chris at home on Monday for an hour or so and I think he was glad of the visit.  Harriet phoned on Monday to say that her toilet was still leaking, not blocked but leaking at the base.  Phil phoned Shaun the plumber and met him very early at the OB flat on Tuesday morning.   Coke the dog made a right racket and woke up Harriet, which was a real shame because after her nursing duties, she could have done with a lie-in.  Shaun couldn’t fix the problem and in the end, he told Phil that we needed a new flush system and they arranged to meet up later in the day.

Phil and me wanted to see the film 2012 which Harriet wanted to see as well, so after lunch we picked up HH and went to The Odeon.   What we hadn’t realised that after half an hour of adverts that the film was a long one and went on for 158 minutes.   2012 was okay, quite scary in parts but not a patch on the film made by the director who also made the ‘Day after Tomorrow’.  We literally ran out of the cinema to rush back to Harriet’s flat to meet Shaun the plumber but as I drove into Oldbrook I saw Shaun’s van drive out.  Nightmare.  Added to which, I’d forgotten to put the parking permit ticket on the Ford KA so I got a parking ticket whilst we were in the cinema.  So stressed am I, my brain is fuddled and muddled.  Complete nightmare!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, after a traumatic day that I was in dire need of a glass of white wine, several in fact, so it was a good job that I’d arranged to have a farewell dinner with Christine and Janet.  Steve B, bless him, picked up Christine and me and dropped us all off at Robinsons.   Before I was collected by our chauffeur Steve Pem dropped off at our house after work to wish us happy holidays.  We haven’t seen him for ages; I had a quick chat and left him and Phil with a beer talking about happier times.  Anyway, I diverse, back to Tuesday night and Robinsons.  Janet had been yonks ago to the restaurant but Christine hadn’t been before.  I hadn’t been to Robbies for ages and we all had a really good night.  Good food, loads of wine and a good night was had by all. Shame that Christine has some kind of allergy which swelled up her face and eyes but the restaurant wasn’t busy and we three were all in our own little world, totally oblivious to all others.  We shared a taxi back.  Yours truly fell asleep on the sofa when she got home and suffered badly with a hangover the next day.

Unfortunately I’d forgotten that I had an appointment with a new hairdressers at 11am on Wednesday with Carmello’s in Stony Stratford.   Not good, with a heavy head and puffy swelled up eyes.  Anyway I survived, Carmello was fantastico and I got the best colour and cut I’ve had for years.  I can’t remember what went down on Wednesday afternoon but your bottom dollar that it wasn’t pleasant.  Oh yeah, I remember now; domestic jobs for me and Phil went to meet Shaun the plumber at HH’s flat to fix the toilet.  Some 2 hours later he got home just in time to change and get ready to go to meet up with Wednesday night crew for one last supper.  HH picked us up and we were the first to arrive.  Jon, our man with the van was there and he wished us ‘happy holidays’. 

Jim & Shirley showed up next, closely followed by Chris and Vanessa and George & Joan.  Dan came later and another great night was had by all, well I can only speak for me and Phil but I think the rest of the gang enjoyed it also. Where would be without good friends??  Unfortunately yours truly woke up with yet another hangover the following morning which didn’t bode well for a 10 o’clock appointment with Denise for waxing.  Why do I do it I ask myself I ask now??  But get this, the strange this was, in spite of the headache, I woke up, for the first time since Phil booked the RTW tickets, looking forward to the big trip.  It’s sad saying goodbye to everyone but I think I’m in a big deep, deep rut right now and need a new direction and this trip will certainly get me away from the sofa and plasma TV.

All of Thursday was dedicated to domestics.  Me and Phil debated what was to be our last supper and we both agreed on fish and chips with mushy peas from the chip shop in New Bradwell.  We thought that Chris might appreciate F&C also so we brought enough for Chris and HH and took them over to his house.  Poor Chris looked in pain but he managed to get to the dining table and finished his meal with the utmost dignity.   We stayed for an hour and a bit, but with so many jobs to do, we had to head back for home.  Phil went to pick up his car from the garage and I carried on with more washing and ironing.  I went next door to Emma’s to hand over cards, letters, cheque books and a million instructions.  It is a big responsibility and I do feel guilty but she is totally competent and I know I have got the right woman for the job.

Our last night and I have to say I pen this in draft the night before the big trip and will publish tomorrow.  I phoned John & Marie in Spain but they were on answer phone so I left a message.  Phil phoned his mum and I phoned Arlene’s mum to give her numbers for Emma and touch base before we go. Both Arlene and her mum seem lovely and I hope they have a lovely time together.  Arlene emailed Phil a few days ago to ask whether we want any Christmas decorations up, how sweet is that.  Phil said “no worries, Claire is a Christmas humbug and we try to go away to forget Christmas altogether”.  But hey, sweet of her to ask.

And so the time for us to depart is finally upon us.  I still feel anxious, I’m certain my BP is sky high and Harriet’s toilet is still leaking.  Part of me just wants to run away and leave all the problems behind me but I know I can’t and won’t.   I am a born worrier and stressor but I think, once I’m on that plane, I will reach a state of no going back and what will be will be. 

Signing off now because I need to go do last minute final things before we are picked up by the taxi.   Thanks for all the drinks, dinners and happy holiday emails, texts and phone calls.  I’m sure we don’t deserve, but hopefully doing this blog and sharing some of our new experiences will help others on their travels.  For us, and I’m sure I speak for Phil, knowing family and friends are following makes us feel less homesick. So one last request, I feel a bit like “Billy no Mates” so if you can spare the time to add yourself as a follower, then that would be great. 

Time now, to sign off.  Sorry for lack of photo’s.  Next blog from Hong Kong.

G’day!