Get Fresh at the Weekend (Showing Out)

Ah the weekend, lazy mornings on bed, a relaxed breakfast, the bliss of not having to shave and time to relax with friends. Mel and her kin, Kim, meanwhile urged us to get fresh at the weekend, implying that during the week we ignore deodorant and ablutions?

Perhaps we are meant to spray “room fragrance” and Febreze around to make the place seem more alluring over the two days.

On Saturday we escaped to Browns Bay, a pleasant seaside suburb with shops, bakeries and cafes galore, in order to meet a friend of Glenn’s. I had yet to meet this friend in person, and human nature being what it is, set out to make a good impression.

With this in mind I selected a very eatable black forest gateau slice, complete with a decent fork to partition it and deliver it to my mouth in suave sophisticated gestures. A sensible latte arrived in a cup (with a handle, so not messing about there either). Our guest arrived and we stood up to greet her, like a gentleman would……..and then knocked the table, so coffee spilled over the brim and filled the saucer. Oops!

Nothing disturbs the intimacy of a cosy meeting than the clash of china against glass, and the froth of coffee teetering over the edge of it’s vessel like the waters of the Ruhr pushing against the Mohne Dam.

It was with a tangible sense of relief that we relocated to the beach, to catch some rays. (sun not manta). We chose a shady nook of trees overlooking the sand, waves lapping the shore, and a clear view of Rangitoto, our friendly local neighbourly volcano. Dormant and not very fresh.

After a good hour of more chat, a sparkling use of wit and a liberal dose of jokes and puns, I resolved to move the car, which was parked in a metered space.

My leg by now was quite numb, from bad (but sophisticated) posture and lack of movement, so I said my goodbyes, and stood up.

Except I didn’t stay up for long.

I suddenly had no support in my legs and fell backwards to the ground. Oh how very sophisticated I must have appeared.

“it’s all right, I’m OK, just numb….” And made to stand up again.
The sandy grass kissed me once more as I plummeted earthwards.

Hmm, time to shake the old leg to freshen up my circulation, and hastily make a respectable exit. I limped off like a late forties ex diabetic with organ transplants, collected the car and quickly drove off.