It’s been a rather busy weekend in our household!
Saturday morning started off with me marshalling at the local ‘Park Run’ which is held in the grounds of the very pretty and very large Arrow Valley Park. The runners were glowing, the lake sparkling and I had a wonderful time cheering on the participants from my spot at the Totem Pole.
From there I came home to do a spot of gardening – and heaven knows what else – before popping to Evesham Garden Centre; now known as ‘The Valley’ this place has developed so much that it resembles a small town.
I am not sure if this is good or bad: it’s a great place to shop – spacious, spanking-new and super-clean – but the town of Evesham is a little tired (as are many small towns in the UK) so could the shops that have taken units here have injected inspiration into the High Street instead? What are your thoughts?
Leaving ‘The Valley’ with my intended purchase of a Fig tree (and some pretty Sweet Peas in a container for a birthday gift) I almost walked bang into an old friend of mine. We hugged (genuinely, no air kissing) and were equally delighted to see each other.
‘G’ and I hadn’t seen each other for many years as our lives had taken different directions, but it was just wonderful to see her and her husband ‘R’. They have not changed at all. Of course, we all look a little older but we recognised each other right away. We spent at least 25 minutes standing there, catching up, while our O.H’s conversed too. ‘G’ and ‘R’ were surprised that I remembered their telephone number off pat when saying I would call them sometime…I do have a thing for numbers!
On the journey home Tom asked when ‘G’ and I first met. I recounted my first memory of ‘G’ walking home from school with me and my Mum feeding her a jam sandwich before sending her home. We must have only been about 6 years old but children were pretty safe in our area and, yes, walked to school and home with other children – no adults needed!
‘G’ and I drifted apart in our teenage years and then palled up again at college where we were both training to be secretaries. My most prominent memory is the day we decided to ‘take time out’ (read ‘scive’) from college and wandered around ‘Boots Chemist’; I can visualise us picking up flannels and feeling the quality. We were only 17 but I think ‘G’ was starting to save for her ‘bottom drawer’ as she had already met the love of her life (and is still married to him all these years later).
That was also the day I realised ‘secretarial work’ wasn’t for me. I was bored learning shorthand so when ‘G’ and I returned to college I flicked through a magazine, saw an advert for the Women’s Royal Naval Service, filled in the application and a couple of months later was on a train heading for Reading for the start of my Naval training and subsequent career as a Radio Operator. I have always been a tad spontaneous I guess.
Saturday evening my OH and I went out with friends for a birthday meal (hence the Sweet Peas). Essence, in Headless Cross, is always a safe bet for excellent food (Indian cuisine), authentic decor, and good service. The proprietor always makes us (and everyone) welcome. ‘I’ loved his Sweet Peas, and a fun night was had.
Sunday morning saw me going out for a trail run with some members of a local running group known as ‘Kingfisher Harriers’. During the run I was talked into registering for a 10k race in July – thanks ‘H’!! Timberhonger is apparently quite hilly so I am not sure if I am going to enjoy the run but I know I will love the after-run rush of a ‘runners high’ and I will have excellent company during the run too.
Arriving home around 10.30am I planted the aforementioned Fig tree before Tom and I drove over to Cheltenham for lunch at our daughter and her OH’s home – always a lovely, chatty, fun experience. Oh, and the food was pretty good too…don’t mention the cauliflower though!!
Driving back from Cheltenham Tom exclaimed, ‘Is it worth going home as we are due at the Pub Quiz pretty soon?!’. I explained I needed to freshen up so even 30 minutes at home would be good. We dashed in and dashed out arriving at the Blue Boar near Stratford-on-Avon just in time for the quiz which was written by our friend, ‘M’ and marked by our friend, ‘L’.
We were placed in a team with another couple who we hadn’t met before but we seemed well-suited and have promised to team up again next month with ‘S’ and ‘A’.
So, from old friends like ‘G’ and ‘R’ to newer friends like ‘H’ from the running club, to brand new friends like ‘S’ and ‘A’, I would like to say, ‘Thank you’ for being a friend and making life fun!
Hugs
Leigh