Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud

My Dear Princess and Dear Friends,

Loulou and Tiger invited Caro to go swimming with them at Pekapeka* beach today. I went along to guard the towels and take pictures.

It is only 15 minutes drive from our house. Along the way we discussed our Hogmanays. And then we got on to the subject of the millennial Hogmanay. 

I reminded Caro that we spent it in the company of Auslaender, watching The Sounds of Disco on tv. This is because our New Year's party was on New Year's Day itself (Davey the Fireman was working New Year's Eve and we planned our plans around him).

Apparently Loulou spent hers in York, getting drunk and loaded. She told us that she was very excited for the whole Y2K thing and was very disappointed when civilisation didn't end. 

Tiger was also in the UK, and remembers that night as his first ecstasy. Although he doesn't remember too much after that. 

And then we were at the beach, and the three headed off into the water while I took pictures. It was low tide and the water was quite some way away, but I could hear the screams when the water hit the naughty parts anyway. 

It has been another quite beautiful day here today and so I enjoyed sitting on the beach, looking around and smiling at the happy dogs. When the three returned they seemed energised by the experience and told me that the water wasn't THAT cold, despite the squealing.

It was lovely and peaceful when suddenly an &rsehole on a dirt bike went by in a blaze of revving and petrol fumes. 

"What a c*nt," said Loulou. Then immediately took it back. "I'm trying not to be so negative," she explained. I told her that, in my view, there was nothing wrong with what she had said and that - in fact - 2022 could do with more expressions of c*nt. 

"I know, I know," she sighed. "But I shouldn't let c*nts ruin a moment like this," she went on. "It's a beautiful evening and we've had a great time but every silver lining has a cloud and that's just how it is and that's okay."

I love listening to Loulou. She is a silver lining of a friend. Clouds are not included.  

S.

* Which means "bat" in Maori. I'm insufferable after a year on CST.