Quiet Saturday

My usual lie-in on a Saturday.

Blake and I go for a walk in the fields nearby. It starts off very sunny and cold but gradually becomes mistier and even colder. Still I'm wrapped up and am wearing the new warm socks and gloves that Marian bought me so I'm quite 'toastie'. We meet a couple of joggers - they're very brave as it's very muddy and the mud in these fields is very slippery. It has been made worse by the farm tractors which must have been out on the day before as the ruts are deeper and the paths well-churned.

We also meet the farmer and his two dogs - black lab and a little spaniel. Both friendly but Blake is wary of them for some strange reason. He has not been well recently - dodgy tummy, Marian says that he threw up yesterday and he did again this morning before I fed him. (My second job this morning was clearing that up - nice! Oh! The first job was feeding him!) He's bright enough, nose is cold, tail high and he's his normal exploring self.

Leisurely breakfast and we tackle a bit of the crossword. I do some work in the garage and garden and tidying up the house after the last hectic weekend (this one is a real contrast). I also want to see what Blake's number two's in the garden look like to see if he does have a tummy problem but everything out there is the normal doggy type stuff. Still, I clear it up so he's got another clear garden for a couple of weeks!

Indoors we do some more housework - I think Marian wants it tidy cos' Keith and Yvonne are coming over later. We're going out for dinner to celebrate his and my birthdays. Actually, we did have full house last weekend and just need to get it tidied again.

I spend the last of the afternoon reading through the 30-page document we got from our lawyer. We're in the process of trying to settle the claim we made against our neighbours who cut down a tree in our hedge and hacked up the rest of it. It's been going on since July 08 and we had hoped it would've been settled by now - they last the case last September but have managed to drag out settling our costs until now and there is no prospect of immediate clearance. On top of that our lawyer seems to be willing to yield more to them and to offer up some of the expenses we paid (under his recommendation) because they're querying the costs. Neither of us are impressed by this so we've arranged to meet with him on Wednesday and I want to get some questions sorted out for him.

Keith and Yvonne arrive on time as they can be relied to. We chat, gossip and catch up with each others' lives since we last saw each other - the last time was on Yvonne's birthday and we have had Christmas, New Year, my birthday and Keith's birthday in between. That makes it seem like it has been long time ago but it has only been about 6 weeks!

We head off to the Blue Strawberry - Marian has never been but the rest of us have and we have all enjoyed the food there. Its rather good and we don't have a problem revisiting it for this special occasion. In fact we're quite looking forward to it.

It turns out to be an excellent evening. Over the years we have grown to know each other very well and are quite frank without being rude or disrespectful to each other. The reverse is very much the truth with much esteem for each other and some care in the way we handle sensitive discussions. That sounds like I'm being careful about our discussions but, believe me, there are times when we are anything but. However, the is much respect and at all times we are mindful of each other. It has worked well so far and none of us wants to disturb the equilibrium we've developed.

The meal is great. We tuck into 3 courses and a couple of bottles of wine. Lovely!

Back home Keith and I hit the port whilst Marian and Yvonne tuck into tea! Believe it or not we then sit up and play Scrabble for the next two hours! We do chat in between turns but just enjoy being in each others company for the most part.