LES GIRLS

SATURDAY 26th MARCH

  I was awake well before 5.15am (the appointed rising time), thanks to the telly blaring away down below.  We set off for the airport shortly after 5.30am after checking that the flight was not going to be late, and got to the airport around 6.00am.  Trying to find the "Arrivals" lounge we climbed to the 5th floor of a multistorey car park before realising the error of our ways.  We eventually found "Arrivals" and discovered that the flight had landed.  So we got some coffeees and waited.  In the fullness of time Bridie and Angela appeared with their cases.  Rob and I relieved them of their luggage and we headed for the open air tearoom, where you could get some tea and have a smoke.  Ideal for Bridie and Rob, but I'm afraid the teas were fairly dire!

  From the airport, with only one false turn from Rob, we headed for Ward Street.  There we showed the ladies around their residence, and Angela was agreeably surprised by the sleeping quarters, which according to her were much better in real life than in the photos.  The general consensus of opinion was that the gaff was larger in real life than they had imagined it.  Robert received a pack of duty free cigarettes, and I got my South American Guide Book, as well as the Spanish South American Phrasebook, not to mention the 8th Series of Spooks.  From Eastwood we headed for the playing fields where Nick was playing football at 9.00am, and we got there just before the kick off.  Jane was there, so she duly met up with Bridie and Angela.  The match ended 1-1 although Nick's team conceded a silly goal and might easily have scored another three.  The man himself had a good game and came within a whisker of scoring with a long range shot.

  After bidding Nick and Jane farewell we headed for Oakhurst.  Jeannette was out shopping when we arrived but came home soon afterwards.  A luncheon prepared by Jeannette and cooked by Robert on the

BBQ was washed down by white wine, and it all went down a treat.  The prawns were cooked to perfection in my opinion and I have to confess to having several helpings!  The chops were appreciated by Angela, the Chardonnay equally so by Bridie, but truth to tell we all enjoyed the entire meal, not least the bbqued corn on the cob.

  Although she confessed to being apprehensive about meeting Bridie, Jennette and she seemed to hit it off pretty well.  Robert reminisced with "Ange" about his trips to Ireland and inquired about Gerry, recalling watching an Arsenal v Chelsea game in his bedroom as a young lad.

  Bridie and Angela lasted until 7.00pm and then adjourned to bed.  Jeannette went to bed relatively early, which left Rob and me to watch the Sri Lanka v England World Cup match.   I watched it until the end of the England innings, at which point I called it a night, retiring in a not overly optimistic frame of mind.  Robert watched on for an hour or so, but then he two gave up when he saw how the Sri Lankan innings was shaping.