It's Saturday and the sun is shining so no sign of the promised snow atm. My son, who studied Geography, has assured me we probably won't get any here but I can still hope as I love to walk in it when it is all fresh and white and just settled.
The Common in the Snow a Few Years Ago
Today I went out for lunch with an old school friend who I didn't contact for many years (due to a major fall out) until last year when she invited me to see her very ill mum and later to attend her mum's funeral. Her mother was a wonderful lady who was like a second mother to me when I was young. I thought perhaps it would be good to re-connect and wondered why she had contacted me recently to suggest we went out to lunch. Well, lunch went well and the conversation flowed easily which was nice but unfortunately there is usually an ulterior motive with this person and my guess is she is probably looking for somewhere to stay for weekends in my city as she has moved to a country village 40 miles away! Yes, I do sound cynical but having known her all my life since age 12 I do see the veiled hints that were slipped in carefully during the conversation lol. "There is nobody in my life where I could turn up and stay if I had nowhere to go" and "It's difficult to arrange to see you for lunch when I am staying with ex-boyfriend as we have to visit other family" oh and "What area are you living in now?" She comes across as a lovely, supportive lady but there is always a large benefit for her if she is your friend, which is the main reason we parted years ago. However, as a lunch companion it was really nice, the conversation was good and I would go again but not too regularly say every 2-3 months or so. We probably won't have that many lunches as I am not a free B & B for her any more, and don't intend to pick up the tab every time like I used to - today we paid half each.
It was a lovely Harvester restaurant with a huge fish pond full of koi carp in the middle of it. We had the vegetarian meal of cauliflower, tomato and cheese tart with jacket potato, green beans and sour cream. I am not a vegetarian but my friend is, so I decided to try it as it sounded so nice. Really lovely meal cooked perfectly in a lovely atmosphere. A bit of a wait but I suspect most of it was freshly cooked.
The Fishpond at the Restaurant
Tea was chip shop for my daughter and the toddler as I didn't feel hungry after a late lunch and OH didn't get home 'til 7.30 pm as he went for a few drinks with a work colleague. The toddler just loves fish and chips so we have it once a week or so, and she later shared some cheese and olives with OH for her supper. OH went to bed at 9.30 pm and daughter is still working on her dissertation upstairs so I have peace and quiet tonight just me and the dog. It did take me about 15 mins. to get the internet connected - we have a lot of trouble with it going down at least twice a day here so probably time to ring them and complain again. Must do some housework tomorrow if I get time as the place is looking very untidy lolol.
I'm off to get some supper now.
Bye for now All the best x
I think as we get older we see 'friendships' for what they really are. We are very trusting when we are young and often don't realise we might be being used. I think you were sensible not to be pressured into becoming a b & b of convenience. If she really wants your friendship it will continue but without you having to pay a price. Best wishes
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment and you are right - it took me so long to realise I was being used as she always played the sympathy / poverty cards but I am older and wiser now Hope you enjoy the blog Sally x
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