We had a Book Club meeting last night, on Zoom.
I wanted to get an early night, ready for my expedition.
But I missed the last meeting because of being asleep, so I thought I should attend this one.
I didn’t have time to tidy up, so for my background I chose a place I don’t usually sit, and wore one of my Puffin Club badges.
There’s nuffin, nuffin, nuffin like a puffin, nuffin like a puffin book to read (yes indeed).
Ah, the good old days, when you could buy fine literature for half a crown.
Or even two shillings, if it didn’t have very many chapters.
The topic for the meeting was Pancakes.
Teddy read us a story about a pancake machine.
I wonder if I could build one?
It seems to be made from things that one has around the house.
Walrus read to us from his book of Russian fairy tales.
It was a bit too exciting for me, but it had a happy ending, with everyone eating pancakes together.
Except the witch.
Perhaps that’s why she behaves so badly, because she’s not invited to join in the friendly gatherings.
Teddy asked if our next meeting could be about French books, or books set in France, to help with his immersion in French culture.
Everyone liked that idea.
Gibbs recommended The Red Balloon, but I think that’s much too sad.
He and Ellie went to Paris a few years ago, to visit all the places in the book.
That set Didcot off about a holiday he’d had in the Marne, and he recommended The Greengage Summer.
What with pancakes, and everyone’s reminiscences about French holidays, the meeting went on rather late.
I’m sleepy this morning.
I hope I haven’t left anything off my packing list.
Ruffy said I must take my telephone, so as to be able to ring my friends often, and reassure them that I’m all right.
But it’s rather big and heavy.
I think I’ll leave it behind.
I’m sure to be able to find a phone box.
I said goodbye to the people who were at the Zoom meeting, and I can ring all my other friends before I set off.
I might leave the barometer behind too, though it’s a handy thing to have at the seaside.
Now, let’s think about this list.
Oh dear, my handwriting isn’t getting any better.
I can barely read some of this.
Of course I won’t be able to blog while I’m away, but I have a portable little book which I shall use as a journal. Also to write my Welsh vocabulary in.
(Better remember to take a pencil. And a pencil sharpener. And maybe a rubber.)
I used to have some dear friends called Great Stuffed Doll and Rubber Doll.
Gone long ago, I’m afraid.
But a relation of theirs got in touch the other day, and sent me this very useful book, just the size to take on holiday.
She also sent an interesting book about My Fundamental Rights in the European Union.
I don’t think that can have belonged to Rubber Doll or Great Stuffed Doll, so I’m puzzled as to where it came from.
It’s all in French. I’ll ask Teddy to read it to me some time.
Oops, that’s the phone.
(I don’t have a dressing gown.)
It probably is a good idea to relax a little before setting off.
I didn’t quite finish my packing.
I should have hurried across rather sooner.
Ted and Lopsy had been waiting for a while when I got there.
They had everything laid out ready.
They’d set my place at the far end of the tablecloth.
I hope that was distant enough.
Teddy had baked some croissants.
I asked how he’d made them.
Lopsy said she couldn’t bear to watch. She has a rolling-pin phobia.
She had brought a hot-water-bottle full of cocoa for our picnic.
She has a special talent for keeping hot drinks warm.
I wonder if Reindeer has tried that? He has some of the same characteristics as Lopsy.
Cocoa is what French people drink for breakfast. They drink it out of bowls.
That’s quite tricky, with a big bowl. I had to lap mine.
It’s also good to dunk a croissant in the cocoa.
Teddy said I mustn’t call it cocoa. In French it’s called Shocko Larsho. Very tasty.
I believe it was the best breakfast I’ve ever had.
I put aside all thoughts of my packing, and my plans for an early departure, and enjoyed the moment.
What could be better than to spend time in the park chatting with good friends over croissants and shocko larsho, even if it does mean I have to change my plans a little?
We discussed the Book Club.
Teddy’s very pleased about French books being the next topic.
I told him about the French book from Rubber Doll and Great Stuffed Doll’s friend, and he’s keen to borrow it, even though we don’t have fundamental rights in the European Union any more.
Lopsy told me about the delicious casseroles that Teddy has been cooking.
I think they’re the same as stew, but Ted puts a lot of wine into them.
I enjoyed our cultured conversation.
We met someone at the park who was just setting off on a Health Walk.
I shall think of my expedition as a Health Bicycle Ride. I’ve been rather short of fresh air and exercise lately.
Ted and Lopsy are going down to town later for a Black Lives Matter demo.
I wonder if I’ve been using the Lockdown as a bit of an excuse for not doing very much at all?
Oh well, I’ll just have to come back energised by the sea air, and throw myself into the issues of the day.
There are quite a lot of them.
Very kind of Teddy and Lopsy to organise such a nice occasion.
They urged me to take a croissant for my journey.
I won’t take any drink with me, because I don’t have any way of carrying a hot-water-bottle.
As long as I have my Sierra Club cup, I’ll be able to find water wherever I go.
I’ll leave it out when I go to sleep, and it can be filled overnight with soft refreshing rain.
It’s useful for cooking too.
My bicycle panniers are nearly full. Perhaps it won’t be possible to fit all of this in.
I won’t take my strategy suit. I’m not likely to need a jelly pocket on holiday.
And one t-shirt is probably enough.
I’m taking only the healthiest food.
Condensed milk does have all the goodness of fresh milk, only more so, but the tin makes it very heavy.
I’ll have a spoonful or two of it just before I set off, and leave the rest behind.
I’ll pop my face-mask in one of the panniers for easy access.
I’ll just wear it when I’m going through towns or villages.
I can tie the sleeping bag on the top, with my bucket and spade.
I’ve got my helmet, and my hi-vis jacket.
There isn’t really time now to telephone all my friends.
I’ll send everyone postcards while I’m away.
Keep watching your letter-box!
