A Grand Day out

My friend from Sifnos has her brother with us for a few days. We had a lovely birthday meal last night, and our lodger joined us to celebrate. It’s funny after a while, the conversation flowed, lubricated by copious amounts of alcohol, and using a language translator we shared many thoughts, including the devastating effect of the war in  Ukraine many miles away. But also looking forward to when our lodger’s wife and daughter visit, even if it’s only for a few weeks, then to return, but to come back here on a permanent basis soon after. Tonight our lodger is cooking us a Ukrainian banquet, including Herrings under a fur coat. I made a lemon meringue pie for last night, it tasted good, but the topping had a funny dome like fragile crust!

On the Saturday after a brief visit to friends down the road from here, we took the train to Marlow for a wander around. When the trains work, it a great service. It’s funny walking about in long trousers, my bandage hidden from view, people don’t give you a wide berth now. Marlow is a pretty little town, on the river like its more famous sibling Henley on Thames. There are lots of trendy, art and clothes shops, restaurants and cafes abound. There is an old fashioned but interesting fruit and vegetable shop, like something out of my childhood, next door to a sweet shop.


There was this odd Banksy type artwork on an aptly name narrow road, I am not sure Royalists would approve, but it’s quite interesting.


We had a lunch in a pub then walked back to the train station to go home. I was a bit tired when we got back, so had a nap. If I had to guess, and I have to as my phone is refusing to say how far it thinks I walked today, I would say maybe five kilometres, which is pretty good.


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