Mini March Meetings

The first Mini March meeting

Thursday 21st March

With so much going on in our lives, it was difficult to get all of us together, so two mini-meetings were arranged... and then an unexepected treat!  The first cohort: Maggie, Alison, Pam and Helen J met at Croots for a long, lazy brunch. 

Our first deep discussion was about the state of some of our husbands (yes, more than one is getting his money's worth!)  What a carry on!  Thank goodness for quick thinking rapid responses, particularly from our NHS whether on or off duty and a nerve wracking drive in a vehicle one never wished to be behind the wheel of!   Clearly wishing our men folk good speedy recovery and the relevant babes a huge amount of hugs of comfort and sanity. Plus, we weren't entirely sure that the wearing of an overly tight sports bra causing sore nips and a tight chest needed quite the same attention,  but we shared the pain. 

The table is too wide! 

There is an upside to learning when to visit the Royal.  Even if you've managed to get into a car park, finding the recently vacated space can be tricky.  A weekly pass at £11, shared amongst family seems better than hourly rates.  Or, better still, go late afternoon and watch which barriers are permanently up; car park 5 seemed a good bet. 

Whilst on the subject of cars, we chatted about the highlights of driving the latest  computer on wheels , additional insurances which apparently don't include a roof slate  dropping  through a roof and cars which shout 'pot-hole ahead'... just don't swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid it though! 

What a lovely little mover....

And then the hot topic and dreaded mention of smart meters.  Alison can't get a signal with Octopus, not enough limbs or something, so she can't get her grid cash-back.  Helen has an asbestos board so is waiting for the government to cough up a new grant. And Maggie just dreams about having a smart one so she can practise being an even better domestic goddess. 

We covered the usual topics and have decided that the only places not to go on holiday are those where there is gangland culture... probably best stick to Yorkshire then! 

Maggie, stop posing, look at the state of the fields! Urgghh! 

The grass is always greener on the other side! 

The second, unexpected treat took place Tuesday 26th. Janice door- stepped Lynn and  tried to recruit her on a bikeability course, I believe! This would mean Lynn could join all those bikers who drop into the Whitworth tea rooms, if she had the right kit of course. I think I'm close to the truth, eh  Lynn and Janice? 

And so to the very select breakaway meet up on Wednesday 27th

Jo, Julia and Helen M met at a rainy Cromford Wharf at the allotted time of 1pm, planning for lunch and a short walk - needless to say the walk never happened as the two hour lunch brought us to the end of our parking period (and it was a bit grey and uninspiring!)

The café was very busy with people sheltering from the slightly inclement weather but we found a table in our usual spot and settled down for a good catch up.

Smile please

Perfect!

Once we got over the disappointment of having missed the bargain price for soup and a cheese scone on Tuesday we grudgingly dipped into our purses. Soup was off the menu for Julia who has an aversion to coriander - the soup was however light on coriander and heavy on carrot so might have been palatable.

There was certainly a lot to catch up on, skiing trips and all their skiing and non skiing related incidents - but all improved by an Aperol Spritz, trips to Majorca and Wales and Avocets at Slimbridge or was it the Idle Valley….

Future holiday plans were shared and Jo and Julia did their very best sales pitches extolling the virtues of cruising - it seems you don’t have to dress up, go to shows, talk to people you don’t really want to talk to and that you do get more than an hour in the places en route.

Grumpy husbands and their ailments were also a subject for discussion, the ailments may have been dealt with but the worry is that grumpiness is incurable!

Sorry Julia it looks good but some of us are full of soup - take it home for Bob!

With our parking time expired we said our goodbyes.