Wrath and tomatoes

This is Laura frantically buying tomatoes at the market so that we'd make it back in time for lunch with Thomasina, who's extremely strict with us and any hint of disorganisation or faffing.

We made it on time as she was warming her lentils. I delivered the raw chicken breasts requested as a treat for her dog, Flora, who's had an operation today and is sulking in a cone. Tom plans to cook them up nicely.

We all caught up over lunch, hearing about Tom's recent holiday to Greece with her boyfriend's family. The mother-in-law doesn't handle her drink well. At her 70th birthday party a few days after the holiday, she was abusive about a gift of a painting of her dog ('I'm thinking of getting this one put down') and a party guest who'd made the effort to come on a day trip from Geneva ('I don't know why she's come, I don't even like her').

People are ridiculous, entertaining and troubled.