Pies

Woke feeling human again! Thank you for all the good wishes over the last couple of days…hope it’s a while before I’m ill again!
Didn’t feel fully back to normal appetite wise but to be honest that’s no bad thing…I’ve definitely been eating too much recently so could do with this reset! I went down to the garden to look at the trees with one of my neighbours who said he’d had two of his friends who were tree surgeons come round to give quotes, but it turned out they hadn’t actually been round and didn’t have full information about regulations… There’s no arguing with the damage the apple tree is doing to the retaining wall on one side of the steps though…. It was Interesting (in the sense of depressing) to listen to his views on trees, students,  community and the neighbourhood generally. Found him rather draining, so was pleased to be free of the conversation.
Although I’d woken to rain and the garden had been soaked, by the time I came to walk down to town for lunch it was gorgeous warm sunshine and a blue sky…I didn’t even need my jacket. I met CMcL, she introduced me to DG and we went in to the restaurant where I had a salmon salad…seemed the lightest option. Barrage of a conversation hearing about his charity and options for some joint working/sponsorship, and bless her CMcL ended up taking notes for me whilst I fielded questions, but I think there might be something in it.
After lunch I grabbed a shot of the city skyline from the balcony then walked home…unfortunately now cloudy so not as lovely as on the way down, then retired to bed to ensure I’d be well enough for book group tonight. I sent an email summarising the lunch meeting to those who’ll meet him on Friday but then just browsed some ideas of where to take the family when they’re here at Christmas, texted with T and chatted to A before it was time to drive over to MH’s. Lovely evening, albeit minus E and Winsford, and very little chat about the book Missing, Presumed by Suzie Steiner since it had split the group. Hazelh and I had found it quite enjoyable but others hadn’t liked it at all. Food was delicious…dips, olives, baked feta and honey with some fancy crackers for starters then an Ambridge inspired cheese and apple pie, a chestnut and mushroom filo pie and salad for mains, then ice cream, cherries and a really interesting (in a delicious way!) sweet soy sauce. Lots of chat about anniversary plans for our 10 yr celebration in January, meet cute stories, retirement, graduations, grandparenthood, balcony replacements, exercise, art collections and hanging stories, relocation plans, pottery masterclasses, smear tests, Tory leadership campaign (nightmare!), fungi, Christmas plans etc etc.
Home, nowhere to park of course, and straight to bed.