The Lovely Ladies

Those of you who drop by my journal will know that us old pals like to meet up at Chaplins, our favourite restaurant, several times a year. We all met at the school where I now work as a mentor following 28 years of teaching there. Some of us are still there, others have moved on to other work or retired. Conversation around the table tonight ranged from dental and knee problems to the cult of celebrity, to the total absorption of some people with their mobile phones, to the appalling spectacle that is the Levinson enquiry to our ageing and ailing parents to planning another beano to Paris. They are all very dear friends, the kind of people who are there for you without question.

If you look closely you will see Charlie watching over us at the end of the table!