Friday 1.

 

Been a nice sociable day so far. Walked into town for coffee and croissants in st. Mary's. This idea has really taken off. Coffee area crowded. On way home stopped in Market place and bought a loaf of French bread from a young French vendor. Not a full grown Frog, but well out of his tadpolehood. He said he'd baked the bread last night, and it was tomato, olive, and cheese flavoured. It was two and a half times the price of an ordinary loaf. Ann normally makes our bread,but as we were running out of time, and had friends coming to lunch, we decided that the French loaf was a good idea. Ann then walked into town to buy spinach to make soup for lunch, and I walked home to lay table, etc. Friends Brenda and Warren arrived at midday (as did another friend Hamish, to drop off wall clock whose pendulum needs rebuilding). Spinach soup was, as always, first class; But French bread was disappointing, both texture and taste being rather bland (Ann's is infinitely better). Gave them a bottle of Neisteiner to go with it. Then a cheese board; mainly the last of the Christmas cheeses. Then a cherry pie and custard (of which only Warren and meself partook). Then coffee. The above photo (which I only remembered to take when lunch was over) shows Warren and Brenda, and the remains of lunch.
After this we adjourned to the drawing room and sat round the fire till just after 3p.m. Have known Brenda and Warren since all our children were young, so conversation is easy and general.
This evening we plan to go to the Cinema Club and see a film called (I think) Last Chance Harvey. Will probably report back if it's any good, and even more probably if it's not.
Cheers, Mike.