Eating out?

We pick PD up on the way to the Pub. "We can't make the end of the month meal," he suddenly announces. His children are away at the moment & right now, with so recent a death in the family, he & his wife feel priority has to be given to family. They won't know for definite what they are doing until the children are back & let them know whether they are needed for, possibly even hosting, a family get-together over the Bank Holiday. Or for that matter if they are required for extra childminding duties. "Are you two going anyhow? he adds.

We both come to the same conclusion. No. Numbers are very depleted. Linda & her friend are off to Dublin - some international hairdressing competition. Helen is dog-sitting. We hadn't seen the others for ages to ask them. Just for ourselves why bother, when as I said not long ago, we prefer on the whole to eat at home.

At the Pub, among others, were Fran & Den. As soon as they had the chance they asked if the meal was still on on Monday. We looked at each other & said sure if they were coming. They eat out a lot but they do appreciate having a bit of company & we  haven't dined with just them for a while, not since Christmas Day in fact.

So this morning, I ring Mrs B, the only other person who hasn't said one way the other. She's off to Cartmel races on Monday with the family. If it rains she might come along to the meal, but otherwise she will be doing her family traditional Bank Holiday day out to the races. So it looks as though it will be just the four of us. In some ways that's suits us better. We can focus our attention on our fellow guests & the Fox can hear all that's being said.

But meanwhile we've got a quiet weekend ahead. The potatoes are par-boiled ready for roasting. The batter's made for the Yorkshire pudding. We're all set for traditional roast beef with all the trimmings. Great.