Down at the Pub

It was a lively group at the Pub yesterday.

There was Henry, an elderly man, public school if ever there was. He has been thrilled to receive an offer for a very reasonably priced break in Honfleur. He loves France & is always keen to go. He's trying to persuade his son to go as well. 

Mr P was in too, still flush with the success of his dining club. He'd just been to visit his daughter-in-law who is stuck in Preston hospital. She collapsed earlier in the year & seems to have lost the use of her legs. They suspect it's ME. She's been in months but tests are still going on. She's still very young, can only be in her early twenties.

Bob, the landlord, kept interrupting as Mr P plugged his restaurant to Henry who is contemplating going some time. Bob reckons the restaurant that ought to being plugged there is his pub restaurant, not Mr P's.

The crossword caused controversy. The clue was "Simple operatic aria". I thought Mr P, the ex-music teacher, should instantly know the answer. He didn't. He was utterly bemused by the concept of a "simple" operatic aria. When we had all the letters from intersecting clues, he finally guessed the answer - cavatina. He checked it in the dictionary to be told a cavatina was a simple song. So why did they call it a simple "operatic aria" he wondered. I could only point out an aria is a song so I suppose a simple one must be a cavatina.

Mr P has been offered his old job back part-time, just one day a week. PD reckons he should take it, but Mr P isn't keen. He's enjoying his retirement & doesn't want to tie himself again to having to work even one day a week throughout term time. He's hoping he & his wife may be able to take advantage of some of holiday bargains on offer as the weather improves, provided, of course, her ME isn't in too bad a state.

Others come & go. All join in the merriment. There is much laughter & leg-pulling. All in all it's a good session.