15May1996

My dear folks,

Bea & Flea have gone. I saw them downstairs at 0900 & into the mini-cab that was taking them to Heathrow. Bea’s cold is still slightly troubling but not sufficiently to take the shine from her trip. They are two old ladies as delighted with their adventures as any schoolgirls you ever came across. After their departure, I had a very cleaning kind of morning, one that will have to last for a long time. The trouble about cleaning is that each little object wiped merely disgraces its neighbour & the process is in danger of continuing ad infinitum. I had to draw some firm lines.

Trish & Iris joined us yesterday afternoon, delighted to see their relatives again & anxious to take them out to dinner. Their relatives were only too pleased at the prospect. After some discussion, however, we decided instead to bring the dinner in. We had relished our curry dinner some days earlier & thought we might repeat it on a grander scale. Iris & Bernice both declared several times that they didn’t want hot curries & Trish & I reassured that none would be pressed upon them. Indeed, none were. Tandoori Nights provide a selection of slightly spiced curries as well as the throat rippers Jones prefers. We made our choices from their extensive menu, placed our order, laid the table with the best crockery & cutlery, & then sat down to a truly splendid meal. Afterwards, I joined Trish & her mum for the gentle amble back to the Colonnades Hotel a few blocks away. They hope to join up with Cath & Anita on Wed.

Mother, thank you for the four pages that poured off the fax machine & which the group shared earlier in the day. Bernie wondered whether she deserved your exhortations about leading me further down the slippery slope & we sat down with a glass of wine to discuss them. She has certainly practised the moderation you endorse. Flea doesn’t drink at all, which I think is a bit selfish since Bea doesn’t like to drink alone. But I was able to be of service, fortunately. All the family spoke of your amazing recovery & your sisters looked forward greatly to seeing you. I never knew people enjoy each other’s company more than the Hingle sisters & I know it will be a joyful reunion.

I noted your comment about it now being illegal to hold a second passport on top of a SA passport. I shall make discreet enquiries. I strongly suspected that such laws would be passed sooner or later. And time that the sun kissed winter a final goodbye. You have had a time of it. Mind you, Jones, I see another huge low pressure build up in the Atlantic which is likely to sit over Portugal towards the end of the week. There may be a few more drops of rain coming your way before summer’s onset.

What else?? I got down to the opticians yesterday who said they suspected my troublesome lenses had some sort of inherent fault & promptly ordered another set. I shall be pleased as I paid a great deal of money for them. I also found an excellent locksmith in the area who made me a new set of keys for the flat. So often, one doesn’t fit. But these fit better than the originals. I’m missing a set somewhere. Time to change the locks again! Today, I had barely finished showing when the doorbell rang with a delivery of new ink cartridges for the printer. I left a trail of footprints down the carpet.

This afternoon, Mavis & Poopoo from downstairs are making a joint trip to the vet for their annual jabs & flea checks. They don’t know it yet. I’m not going to be a popular human with Mave this evening. He doesn’t like having his schedule disrupted & he especially doesn’t like being crammed into little hokkies en route. But that’s life. And of course, I’ll be at the airport a little later to welcome my sister & her younger daughter. Blessings for now. T