Friday...

Today I was saying goodbye to Hazel and Lily the cockapoo (call it what you like Haze she is a hybrid/mongrel but a very lovely one at that!!!).  Lily successfully managed her sleepovers which has put Hazel's mind at rest for when she comes visit.  I am so excited that we will be together again really soon - it has been a blast spending time with her again - just like the good old days nearly 40 years ago!!!

Hazel and I take Miss Lily on a lovely walk - she really is a fab little dog which is high praise indeed coming from me who does not normally like dogs.  She is cute and well behaved.  I take a quick trip into the local St Margaret's Hospice Charity Shop which is a fruitful one as I find a lovely Wedgwood plate suitable for serving cake or biscuits and I have been looking for one for ages.  Whilst in the shop I bump into Dave one of the guys who used to play Cribbage at our local The Royal Standard.  He and his brother Roy used to play for the A team and we the B or vice versa!  Anyway we had a little chat and once again I was told "you look well" which is beginning to get a tad worrying!

We go back to Horton Close and I pack up before we say our goodbyes - Lily by putting her tongue in my ear!  On leaving Hazel's I called in to the craft shop across the road to get the silicon bobbly cake mould thing that Nicky was after.  I then made my way to the Masons Arms at Lower Odcombe where I was to meet up with the lovely Joani and Roger and Daisy Dog who had arrived there last night.



The trip from Yeovil was full of surprises as our old cycle route has made way for a massive new housing development and I was almost disorientated by the changes in the road layout.  On arriving at the pub I managed to catch up with landlord Drew, unfortunately Paula was away, and he told me about their plans now that they have decided to sell up after 15 years at the helm.  The pub and the surrounding land is a million miles away from the business they took on all those years ago.

The gardens of the pub are looking particularly spectacular at the moment with all the beautiful traditional cottage garden flowers in bloom and it is here that I meet up with Roger and Daisy and shortly thereafter my fabulous friend Joani.

It took us quite some time to catch up on the intervening years most of which centred on our respective aches, pains and illnesses but I am so glad to report that they look no different in spite of everything they have had to put up with.  It was just so lovely of them to venture up from deepest darkest Wembury which was such a beautiful spot and I always felt so privileged to be invited to stay there with them and even more privileged to have had the opportunity to go to their beautiful cottage by the see which I absolutely loved, nestled in National Trust land overlooking the fabulous boats and the Ship Inn at Noss Mayo.

The years melt away when you return and spend time with lovely people and I have been so lucky to be able to catch up with nearly everyone I wanted to see since I arrived here on Monday. Sadly I have to leave mid-afternoon to return to Keinton Mandeville and my godmother Janet before going to the first of my reunion events this evening.  I was just so pleased to learn that Joani, Roger and Daisy Dog are saying another night and may get to sample the delights of Montacute House before they return home.

I unpack at Aunty Janet's taking the back bedroom which has the fabulous view over the top of the Atrium and out towards Yeovil.  It is a glorious evening.  I have time for a chat and a quick change before leaving via Castle Cary to pick up my old schoolfriend and fellow Cypriot dweller, Sheri.  Together we make ouor way to the Smithy at Charlton Musgrove.

Sheila, Sheri and Kenna, Lil, Lisa, Podder, Abimbola, Nessie, Karen, Peggy, Harriet and Liz

This evening there were about 20 girls assembled from the 76/78 reunion.  They had come from all four corners of the globe with Lisa having traveled the furthest having come from Hawaii!!  The sound level was amazing as more girls arrived and were drawn in around the dining table to exchange stories of our days at Sunny Hill and then thereafter.

It was amazing and so good to see all those fabulous people once again.  Tomorrow is the celebration proper and the official part will take place at the school and then another get together at the Smithy.

Finally I have to wish a very happy birthday to my Mum who apparently spent the afternoon Cypriot Dancing before being taken to the theatre to see 'Ello 'Ello with my sister Kaye.