Whilst Jonathan remained in Ste Foy looking after my garden, I returned to London to spend time with my mum and catch up with friends. Anita travelled from Australia to continue her 60th birthday celebrations and a big group of old friends joined her.
Gill, Anita, Helen, Helen, Sally, Tom and myself all met more than 40 years ago in our first year at university. Gill and Anita were room mates whilst Sally and I were on the same landing in the residences. Anita, Helen and Helen then shared a flat in Fulham where they threw some memorable parties, as did we when I flat-shared with Gill. Tom, Helen and I were in a small study group of five. Dave and Helen met at school and have shared a life full of adventures.
Helen and Dave hosted us all in their lovely canal-side cottage just outside Chichester. They do lots of canoeing and, with the beautiful weather we soon found ourselves enjoying a paddle upstream. It was truly magical slipping along the waterway with ducklings and baby moorhens nestling among the reeds.
We had a great evening of shared memories and wonderful food cooked by Dave who, along with Rob, patiently listened to all our reminiscences. After chatting late into the night, the next morning we headed to West Wittering for a refreshing swim before heading home, promising to do it all again very soon.
Back in London Anita had two birthday parties, the second being a fabulous ‘pink’ garden party hosted by Helen. For once in England there was no rain and our only concerns were the possibly of sunburn and heatstroke as the temperature rose into the 30s.
I’ve now arrived back in France where the weather is just as hot and sunny. I’m looking forward to a few months in the mountains before we return to the UK to join in Ros’s 60th birthday celebrations.