Curry; Mum's birthday; road confusion

First post since August due to a combination of: 1) idleness; 2) hotel room-induced fractiousness; 3) side effect of stress and longer hours due to workplace battlefield promotion. May produce backfill update later, but here’s a potted summary of the last week:

Clockwise from left: Matt, Rebecca, Paul, Galina, Victoria, Guy, me

Finally galvanized myself to do my bit for workplace socialising and organise a meal out last Thursday evening. Matt and I met for pre-dinner drinks and a nice chinwag at the Vaults Bar on Stony Stratford’s high street, before joining half a dozen or so others at the Naidni for a curry. Was determined to actually get a photograph taken of the occasion this time, so roped in one of the waiters, who was extremely helpful and in fact took about nine from a variety of different angles, while my colleagues developed rictus grins and I assured him that a couple would do, honestly.

Went swimming first thing on Friday morning, followed by treating myself to an entirely justifiable breakfast at Carluccio’s, rapidly starting to become a staple on days off. Had managed up until that point to barely take in the whole Black Friday thing, though did note that the restaurant seemed quite busy; while meandering back through the shopping centre I saw that a couple of shops – including GAME – had people queuing outside the door and that the shops appeared to be letting people in in small batches. Ray later told me that he had called in at Tesco around 11.30pm the previous evening to see people queuing to access the Black Friday bargains that went on sale at midnight. Quite bizarre. Selfishly, I enjoy sleeping far too much to be doing with any of that.

Returned to Caversham around midday to be greeted with another comprehensive round of sofa destruction from Willow, which in the spirit of sharing I left for Ruth to clear up. Attempted once again to persuade her of the merits of goldfish. Willow had skipped out of the way in the photo but was lurking under the coffee table like the evil minx she is.

Made an early start on Saturday to drive to my parents’ house for the weekend, kicking off with getting the train with Mum into Bristol to meet Dave and Hannah for a lunch to celebrate Mum’s 70th birthday on Sunday. Mum had been keen for the four of us to get together without any partners attached – something that probably hasn’t happened for over 20 years – and Bristol had seemed like a convenient option. We had a pre-lunch drink at The Berkeley, a Wetherspoons pub on Queens Road, before lunching at Bill’s, where Hannah had efficiently reserved us a nice booth at the back of the restaurant. Post-lunch we walked up part of Brandon Hill and sat briefly.

The train journey from Abergavenny to Newport was slightly marred by the crowds on board heading for a rugby international in Cardiff; the Newport to Bristol train was only slightly less crowded, this time due (apparently) to a Christmas market in Bath. On the return journey I balked at boarding the first Abergavenny train due to its stuffedness and my mild crowd phobia, though in fairness to Mum I think she would have been prepared to fight her way on; as we suspected the following trains would be similarly well stacked, she phoned Dad and asked him to pick us up, which, to his credit, he did.

Family lunch on Sunday coupled with Mum opening cards and presents, assisted by Nia. Ruth and I had a nice walk to Waitrose first thing to pick up a few groceries, and Nia as Fireman Sam had a frisk around my parents’ garden, assisted by Dad as Station Officer Steele. In the evening Mum, Dad and Ruth watched some of Mum’s new Miss Marple box set, while I flicked through some Rupert annuals and a Famous Five book.

Left on Monday and drove to Newbury as Ruth had an interview at Vodafone HQ for a possible contract. Disconcerted by the realization that I am no longer familiar with the exit from junction 13 of the M4 in the post-bypass landscape, though as I’ve barely driven that way in the past 20 years I’m not sure why that should be surprising. After dropping Ruth at the main reception I opted out of sitting in the car and waiting for her – largely because I couldn’t in fact find a parking space – and drove off the site, intending to wait for her at Chieveley services but actually heading towards Newbury by accident. Managed to locate Waitrose where I did some shopping, then to kill the remaining time I thought I’d drive out to Snelsmore Common, where we often used to go at weekends as kids, to see how it’s been affected by the new road. Unfortunately – again, as it’s been a while – took the wrong road and ended up going through Winterbourne and then onto a tiny back road to Bagnor. When I was about half way along it and hoping not to meet anything, Ruth texted asking me to pick her up, so I turned round and retraced my steps, having had an entirely pointless half hour or so drive around in the countryside.

Today went to another concert in the OU’s ‘Lunchtime Chamber Music’ series, this time by an ensemble called 4 Girls 4 Harps. Lovely sound; never heard a harp quartet before.

Surprised to arrive home a couple of Fridays ago to find a Corby trouser press in the hallway. Turns out Gail has bought it as a present for her husband, and had it delivered to Ruth's house to avoid Rob discovering it. Aside from the fact that it's taking up space in our narrow hallway, Ruth was in London when it was delivered so our neighbours at 51 kindly took it in for us. Fear Ruth's assurances that it wasn't actually ours may have sounded to them like protesting too much. The embarrassment.