A NEW WORD AND NEW FRIENDS!

Mr. HCB decided that it would be a good idea to go out for a coffee this morning as it was wet and dismal, and it would be cold in the greenhouse, so off we went - I had forgotten that I was due to go out with a friend at 2 p.m. today - but I can always drink another cup of coffee!

We settled ourselves into the window seat at Jack’s in Old Town when our friend, Trevor, came in with his neighbour, Robert and his father-in-law, Colin.  They were going to sit just behind us, but as the table we were on seated six, we invited them to join us.  We hadn’t met Robert and Colin before, so enjoyed some pleasant conversation with them and as Colin is hoping to move to Swindon, we hope we showed him how friendly this community is. 

We were deep in conversation when another friend, Lars, came in and as there was a seat left, we invited him to join us too.  So it was me and five men - which could have been scary, but it was very pleasant - the number 4 was so that the waiter knew where to bring his coffee!

I had invited Margaret, a lady who often comes into Jack’s and who was sitting on her own to join us but she said she would leave me to deal with all the men!  When she was about to leave, she came over and said she realised that a man with a lot of women was a “harem” (pronounced “hair-em”) so she wondered what term could be used for a lady with a lot of men - I suggested a “scarem” so here is one of the men in my scarem - Lars.  I know his wife looks at my Blips, so she will now know that was out for coffee and a croissant this morning while she was busy working!

We had a great time and discussed all manner of things from the traffic situation in Old Town to the cuts Beeching made to the railways many years ago - I even told Robert about Blip and gave him the details, so as he is retired and enjoys taking photographs, he said he may join.

A very different morning to the one we thought we would have, but very enjoyable nevertheless and hopefully we all brightened each other’s day in one way or another.

“Your conversations are the beginning 
     of your connections; 
          be careful of your communications. 
Talk politely to strangers; 
     you have no knowledge about how many of them 
          will become your close friends forever!” 
Israelmore Ayivor