An overnight bag was thrown together, washing to go back to Uni was stuffed unironed into bulging rucksack - quick, quick lets go - hang on...... I need my nice shoes if we go out for a meal tonight ....Ha!
Into the hospital at breakneck speed only to find the MRI unit is new - nowhere near X Ray - in fact at least a mile away down corridors that are still squeaky clean with newness......'You're late! Nurse in jackboots on reception greeted us, 'I hope you have filled the questionnaire in' - once more with even more venom as we look at each other with the unspoken words in a bubble hanging above us 'WHAT questionnaire?' She snatched the appointment letter out of Jnr's hand and turned it with a flourish and hissed, 'THISSSSSSSSS ONE!' In that case sweetheart no we haven't because we didn't even know it was there .....but before the comment took form in my hot and flustered brain she had whisked her patient away leaving me with an empty outer shell - one coat, a jumper and a pen -a bit like a chrysalis off some exotic moth.
Within 45 minutes we were on our way down the A49 heading South but in our panic to get on the road I had left the road maps behind hence a few fraught moments when I tried to do geography in my head to work out how to cut across Herefordshire to get to Powys - I blagged it! It wasn't too far out - probably a loss of about half an hour but we got to the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells to catch up with the rest of the family for one of our family days out. The females partake of the mulled wine samples, hot cider, mince pies and any liquers going, whilst the menfolk wax lyrical about quad bikes, fat sheep and spanners. Christmas shopping is done by the bag full and the little ones get totally buried in the pushchair. I had a long conversation with a man who was selling chutneys and preserves after I tasted his Caramellized carrot relish - it is gorgeous, he told me it had a secret ingredient that gave it the distinctive flavour, within five minutes he had told me what it was - so I shall be having a go at that next weekend.
I know how Cinderella must have felt as the gang decided I should have new boots for Xmas - boots descended on me from all angles, havent had high boots for about 25years. Found a pair - gosh - there's posh! All brown leather and suede stripes .Then we had to part as the little family returned to Shropshire and we carried on to the Welsh coast to deliver uni student back to the student squalor he now calls home!
We helped him lug all his stuff back in and had a brief look at his room - not TOO bad, about the same state as his bedroom here - everything in total disarray but relatively clean, but dear God the communal kitchen - how they don't all go down with Dehli Belly is beyond me. The washing up water looked as though walking boots had been washed in it and the plates left to drain - well personally I would have slung them in a bin ......deep breath and walk away>>>>>>>>>
We met all the flat mates - lovely, lovely people. They spoke to us as though we were very aged grandparents, 'Now there's no need to worry we all keep an eye on him and we know EXACTLY what to do if he is ill, and we WILL ring you if we feel we need to....' etc etc as we were shovelled out of the door.
It would have been too much of a journey to drive home so we had booked a hotel on the seafront for the night. We found it and checked in - another madame whiplash receptionist greeted us, stacatto instructions about door keys and breakfast left us shaking. Fear soon turned to hysteria as I changed to go out for a meal and found I had one blue shoe and one black shoe - so it was on with the new boots!
Aberstwyth on a Monday night at the end of November - quiet? NO! It was heaving - we had a dreadful job to find a car parking space and an even worse time finding somewhere to eat. We ended up in the pub that we visited lat year, Mountainear, ChrisH, Preseli Mags, Bodran and yours truly. We sat in amongst the students - but hang on a mo - all the students were drinking coffees, it was me with the G & T! Is this a new era I wonder? Apparently so - drinking culture is rather 'yesterday'. They have whole sessions on the dangers of drink etc and it seems to be working, yes they still party like mad and get drunk etc etc but perhaps not quite so often and definitely NOT on a Monday night in November!
The deckchair area of the slabbed seafront has disappeared as the high storm tides have dumped most of the beach as far as the road - boots were a really good idea after all. The hotel seemed to pride itself on its heat - we found the continual high temperature somewhat oppressive and immediately dived for the window only to find it was on a safety catch of 2 inches max. At 5:30am I was gasping for air, glugging glasses of cold water and admiring the frost on the cars parked below - I just wanted to lick the roofs and roll naked over the bonnets.( too much mulled wine I reckon!)
After a morning of shopping and mooching round estate agents - just looking! Honest! We braved the bitterley cold wind at Nant Arian to watch the red kite feeding at 2pm. At 1.45pm there was nothing to see but at 2pm it was like a hundred or so pinky golden dragon flies fell from the sky as red kites just swept around us. Amazing and I dont suppose for one minute the photo shows any of it .... (just keep expanding to find the birds) we shall just have to go back on a warmer day ,,,,,
10 comments:
Your life is never boring is it? [even if you can never find enough time to pick up your sewing :-)]. Happy memories of watching the very same red kites this last summer. I couldn't believe how many appeared from nowhere all at the same time.
A x
It sounds as though your son is in safe hands with his university friends! A whirlwind read, having a bit of a sit down now.
As well written as ever. For years I used to navigate Jacko back from London to Hampshire via Sussex as I liked the route, he was a foriegner I blagged it all the way just like you!!
Hotel sounds vile but the whole trip sound fun!
When is the book of short stories coming out? Your life could be a series of chapters - something new every day, nothing ever going straight from point A to point B and madcap obstacles at every turn....all of which you take in stride.
Big sympathy re the shoes - I've done it too!
What a wonderful picture you paint of rolling around naked on the bonnets of the cars - I'll never look at the sea front in Aber in quite the same light again! What a brillinat trip.
Honestly, what IS it with you? I've been laughing my head off at your adventures, although I did stop to wince at the odd shoes. It's about time we met up again - although you must warn me if you're going to start licking car bonnets. Exactly what did you do to the Pickle Man to get his secret ingredient??
Gosh I somehow managed to miss your last two posts until today. Can we have a communal scream in the hills?
Hope all goes well with both son's treatment. Happy Christmas? sounds a bit blasphemous. But I mean it. Happy to have them all on the mend ( I hope)
Smiling at your tale and Pondsides comment. Truth is so much stranger than fiction.
You do tell it so well. Will e-mail you tomorrow.
Take care
xx
Wow you had a busy time going round Wales. Hope all went well.
Just catching up with all this - wow, you do fit a lot in. Loved the odd shoes. And the gin. Glad to hear the young man is doing fine and sounds like he's got in with a good crowd.
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