Let them eat cake...

Backblip


Curry was in the slow cooker and simmering away by 1pm.  

D and I headed to Perth for our flu and covid vaccines.  Our appointment was 2pm but parking proved a nightmare so we were ten minutes late.  No problem, the clinic was well run and everyone was lovely. We only had to wait for five minutes before we were taken, D first then me a minute later.  

As I was shown through to the clinical area I was welcomed by a nurse called Sheila who said "This way young lady"  I had a quick look for her guide dog but there was none.  I am now going to wear a mask permanently as from the eyes up I must look younger!  hahahahahahahaha!

Jags done, we had to sit for five minutes then we were on our way to M&S to collect some new bedding for a guest bed (Anna and Faith managed to get some face paint on the duvet cover that I just can't get out) Had a look for poppadoms but they didn't have any.  That's a fail for Tesco, the Co-op and M&S.

Back home and just time to get changed and touch up my makeup before Jo was first to arrive, quickly followed by Alice, Eileen and Dorothy.  Got a message from poor Heather to say she'd been involved in a shunt on the M74 and other than being a bit shaken, was ok.  Unfortunately her car's back and front bumpers weren't so lucky and she was worried about driving it all the way up here so turned back to slowly travel the 15 minutes back home.  Felt so sorry for her as I know how much she was looking forward to coming as she missed our last get together as her cat was ill.

Poor Marie couldn't come either as she had to work (she's a Clinical psychologist who works in suicide prevention so sometimes has to cancel plans at short notice.)  She's had quite a year after taking up cycling and transforming her health so we were looking forward to seeing her but it wasn't to be.  Next time we will give her first choice of date to give her the best chance of being able to come.

It was great to see the others though.  It's a year this month since we were last together and as ever we just take up from where we left off.   Great to hear all their news.  

Alice had a serious, life threatening health scare to a very rare cancer during covid and we almost lost her.  Her recovery is miraculous and it's so wonderful to see her looking so well and living life to the full.  

Dot is busy writing the Christmas panto, rehearsing the cast, making the costumes as well as a million other things (she is one of the most talented people I know)  If you live on the Isle of Bute you must get to Rothesay to see the Panto.  We've made a plan to have a December trip to Rothesay to see the Panto next year :-)). 

Eileen is semi-retired from a very demanding job and enjoying providing childcare for her two year old grand daughter, as well as putting the systems in place to allow her son Tony, who has Downs Syndrome, to move into his own flat and live independently.  Not an easy task as you can imagine.  Nothing to do with Tony's ability to live independently (he is a superstar) but all to do with the legal hoops that have to be jumped through and the mountain of bureaucracy to be dealt with.  

Jo, who's had such a tough time over the last few years (her elder son died just after his 18th birthday from an epileptic fit and in 2014 her husband was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.  He passed away in 2016)  has finally found some well deserved happiness with her new husband P and seeing her other three children through uni and now working in Education.  Finally some time for her to concentrate on herself.  She and P are heading off to Dubai tomorrow for a pre-Christmas visit to P's son who lives and works in Dubai with his wife and two young sons.  Jo and David were full of golf talk and she was keen to tell him about her hole-in-one this summer at the Ailsa course at Turnberry... "Tiger Woods has played that hole and I played it better than him!"  Hahahahahahahaha!  Go Jo!

After dinner it was time to indulge ourselves with the wonderful cakes Eileen brought from her local bakery in Peebles.  This is just one plate, there was another plate with equally delicious cakes!  We sliced then into smaller pieces so we could each have little tastes of more than one.  I had a taste of the pistachio cake, raspberry and chocolate, and passion fruit.  Absolutely delicious.

After dinner we re-charged our glasses, got comfy in the living room and chatted into the wee small hours about anything and everything.  Conversation is always lively, thought provoking and hilarious with this lot.  

Fell into bed just after 2am, tired but happy.