With travelling to a different hemisphere, the changes are even more extreme. Day become night, summer becomes winter, and all in the space of twenty four hours. Suddenly, after so long of fitting into to the routine of others, you are in sole charge. After being the perfect guest (I hope), and having to pack, to move from one friend, or relative to another, which I did. Not because it was difficult to find somewhere to stay for long, but to spread myself around. To fairly, try to spend as much quality time with everyone as I could. Something, I desperately wanted to do. Being in the fortunate position of having many offers to 'come stay, as long as you like'. It was a delicate balancing act, and one I hope I did well. At least, everyone still wants to have the final goodbye. So hopefully I achieved my aim. That, they are as sad to see me go, as I am to leave them.
In this final week, come the special dinners, the last visits, the official, 'before you go' scenario. My brothers band night, and a goodbye to those friends, was the first. A visit to my nephews new house, and baby, the second. The third, was a dinner with friends, at a local hostelry, (more of that anon.) Yesterday there was a family Bar B Q, with friends, tonight, an early 90th birthday party for my mother, because I won't be around in a fortnight when it really is. Not having already delayed my return by a month. The day before I fly, it's a girls day out with my best friend, and her two daughters. In between, I hope to rest, to recoup a bit for the long journey.
There are funny sweet incidents, in all the do's. Times when you trip over each other trying for a hug. Or look up, and laugh at just the same things you did, years ago. Drinking too much at the bar b q in order to overcome a crisis building with my partner, in travel. I thought it might help, and it did. Long live Southern Comfort. It was funny that my niece kept waiting for me to fall over, never having seen me drink more than one before. But I had a much different life, once, long ago. Lucky. I still have my capacity to take it.
The most hilarious though, was the dinner with my friend Karen, and her family. A notorious late comer for most appointments, her twin girls vowed to help her get there on time. The funny thing was, I was almost late. Having had a busy day cleaning a house to help out, a long journey away. I had to forgo going home to change, only having time to freshen up before the dinner date.
She and her girls arrived on time, but she was steaming! A 'domestic' occurred, during her hectic decorating schedule. Her partner had ignored plans, or quality finish, or both, putting them firmly behind the planned schedule. "I'm not speaking to him" she said, and when he arrived, and tried to speak, " she replied to him, "No! Don't like you!" Which was fair enough as I had bought a domestic argument into her home the day before. When my partner, had made us miss the only swimming time we could make for several days. Ignoring my plea to be back at a certain time, and why. Work, for him always coming first. An old argument, and boring, to me anyway.
Of course, the two men sympathised with each other, as expected. Then one of the girls knocked her water over, making her mother jump back, my feet were splashed, but lucky outcome for all. Then, as the water continued spreading, she knocked her wine glass over too. This time, it filled the cooked dishes, sitting ready to start in the middle of the table. Poor girl, she was mortified, but hell, I have family that do that all the time. The waiters having mopped everything up, bought new napkins, drinks, and dishes. Walked away relieved, I'm sure. When, between Karens legs there was a great explosion, as the cork popped from it the neck of a bottle of bubbly, held, in a plastic bag, between her ankles. They bought it along, thinking it a 'bring your own'.
Of course, the whole place was interested, the waiters especially. I laughed with them. Saying "god, I've got to come back here on Monday night, they won't let me in again". We sorted the bottle out, luckily, just gas. Except I'm sure the staff thought we were plying the bottle under the table, instead of buying the house drinks! They were very good about it all really.
That incident, reminded of when my Grandmother had her family around her. It was during one of the wars, they were walking down a lane in the dark, carrying home made wine. Everyone had been told to beware of the enemy landing. So, when, out of the darkness, there was a series of bangs, they all thought the worst. The Germans were there, shooting at them. They ran all the way home before they discovered what had been the cause of their fright. The bottles exploding of course, popping their corks.
So, all of you out there, enjoy your times, and don't let anything worry you. There has always been worse happening before.
Here's to good friends, and family......
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