Two Years!

Two years blipping! When did that happen? I’ve just signed up as a life member - hope I get my money’s worth. Actually, I’d just need to do it a day over two years, and I’m quid’s in!

I had two rare sightings today. The first one was on the bus, when I met my old gentleman friend who likes my hat - haven’t seen him for ages. He was beside me on the bus down town, and we got chatting. He said he’d had a great life, but it was ‘payback time now' (old age is no fun) … I asked what he’d done - I knew he had done something creative or intellectual. And he had! He was a freelance documentary maker and has travelled the world. Though he’s never been to NZ. I will find out more.

I was sorry to have to get off before him - if I hadn’t had ping pong today, I may have got off at the same bus stop.

The other sighting today was a pair of Goosanders at the Craiglockart Pond. I had seen them last week, but hadn’t got a decent shot. They’re quite shy and don’t come in and join the mêlée with the others, so it was hard to get them near enough. This is Mrs G. I loved her hairdo.

I was a bit early for the ping pong, so went to the cafe in the tennis centre. It was full. Suddenly one chap at the far end of the cafe shouted,

‘Pamela! I like you!’

Pamela, at the other end of the cafe, shouted back that she liked Kenny.

I soon realised that the group were all together. They were ‘care in the community’ people, there for tennis. There were most amusing conversations going on around me and across the cafe. They then departed for a game of tennis. Sort of.

Had a good few games of ping pong. My first companions said not to worry about my illegal serve. But after that I really did try - I think it’s getting better. One chap took me under his wing and tried to coach me. The words 'old dog' and 'new tricks' came to mind...

Many thanks to everyone to pops in now and again, and to the stalwarts who pop in every day - you know who you are - I do appreciate your continued support and interest in the daily minutiae of a retiree. Who’d’ve thunk it?