Z smiles

It was a lovely day. I've never visited Windsor before, except for the station, which is very posh as you might expect. What I particularly liked was the understatedness of the castle - fabulous pictures on the walls, mostly unmentioned in the audio guide. Such as, I was strolling round a room and suddenly said - "Good Lord, that's a Rembrandt!" Unlabelled ... well, do you label the pictures in your house? Neither does the Queen. And the room matter-of-factly full of Van Dycks and Holbeins. And the wonderfulness of the restoration after the fire.

Another particularly enjoyable aspect was the company. I sat next to the husband of a friend and he was very interesting to talk to. A bit decided in his opinions, but I like that.

I went round the Castle and had lunch with another friend, whom I got to know better in the time. Her beloved sister died last autumn, having suffered from Alzheimer's, and we talked about her, and about my mother, and about her niece who will take time to recover from it all, and about ourselves. She is a dear, kind, wise person, which I already knew, but now we know each other better too.

I also chatted to the coach driver, Keith, who loves his job. I do enjoy people loving their job, don't you? Enthusiasm is a pleasure to hear about and makes for an interesting conversation.

I phoned half an hour from Norwich and again from the petrol station (not one of the ones selling petrol that seems to have damaged cars) to say when I'd be home, and a splendidly grilled sirloin steak, baked potato and purple sprouting broccoli were being dished up as I walked in the door. Furthermore, after yesterday's post, I found that they had put aside a bowlful of kedgeree for me last night. Not where I could find it, but the thought was all, and all is benign and cheery in the Z household.

And so to bed.

Well, in an hour or two.