These are lovely days
There’s something about October. We are over the “new beginnings” and “fresh start” of September and we’ve usually settled into a gentle rhythm of cooler days and darker nights. My diary has been filling with fun commitments; my WI has restarted our meetings and it’s always good to catch up with friends again.
My sewing machine was humming away for a couple of hours as I made the last four or five pieces for HRH’s bunting, leaving Helen to put the final touches to that project.
I had the surprise of a last-minute invitation to the theatre too, to see Dial M for Murder in Cheltenham. Sadly, our friend was affected by the “false negative” CV testing and found herself in isolation rather than the theatre - not the intended outcome at all. I was surprised at the casual approach taken by most of the audience and felt very much in the minority wearing my mask and keeping my distance.
I usually associate October with the final assessment and signing off of another group of NFWI Craft Judges and was delighted to be able to get together with the 2020 judges last week to spend the day with them putting all the final touches to their training. Their training has not been without challenges and it was great to be able to award them their badges and welcome them to the team at last.
Another one of those eagerly anticipated days on Wednesday too, when our sweet friends Terry and Tim from Michigan were in London and we were able to meet up with them. We’d been looking forward to them spending some days with us here in Gloucestershire for a few days in Autumn 2020, but of course, like so many other things, that didn’t happen. So we had a fair bit of catching up to do and a few hours in and around Kings Cross and the Coal Drops Yard, including lunch at Dishoom.
Such a favourite, the terrific atmosphere lent itself perfectly to a long and chatty lunch. It’s such a shame we’re not able to get together more frequently!
It was strange to be in London and not meet up with Amy and Edward who, after all, are not so far from there. But we were looking forward to their visit here on Friday for my birthday weekend! How lovely it was then, to go downstairs early on Saturday morning to make tea and find the kitchen table looking so pretty!
My day was filled with surprise presents, some elegantly wrapped
and some rather less so… Gift wrapping has never been one of Edward’s main talents and his best efforts are always part of the fun!
I was given so many lovely things: interesting books, new watercolour paints, quilting circle rulers, gin and flowers. Oh, and the best debobbler in the world! I have the sweetest, most thoughtful family and friends and was overwhelmed with their good wishes throughout the day.
We finished with dinner at The Ox Barn at Thyme, a lovely end to a fabulous day.
The house is quiet now Edward and Amy have caught their train back to London. They both have busy weeks with their work commitments and much as we’d have loved them to linger longer here, we can look forward to seeing them again soon.
More to the point, we can look forward to further adventures of our own in the not too distant future. For now though, we’re going to keep our heads down, stay out of mischief and most certainly out of the way of any passing viruses and focus on keeping well in preparation for our booster jabs.
Oh, and I can now apply for my bus pass 😎
