It’s not even a day yet!

Hubby and I are Soul Mates.
We were destined to meet , and since finally getting together over a quarter of a century ago, we are rarely apart. He jokes that if he’d been jailed for murder, he’d be getting out now for good behaviour, and although I have the dog for company, it seems quite strange knowing he will not be back for a few days (and nights).

We hadn’t been married very long when he ended up in hospital.
Jokingly, I said to the doctor that it wasn’t my cooking, and completely straight-faced he replied,
‘Well actually, it was.’

It reminds me of a story about a woman who had been widowed three times and was being tried for murder. Her first two husbands died of food poisoning, whereas the third died of a broken neck. When asked how it happened, she replied ‘He wouldn’t eat the mushrooms’.

Hubby likes mushrooms by the way, but basically it wouldn’t have mattered what I cooked as his stomach couldn’t handle it. After years of living alone and surviving on what is referred to as ‘The British Diet’ (chips with everything, bacon, burgers, and the like), my efforts to convert him to healthier living and fresh fruit, veg and home cooking nearly killed him!
Subsequently, any changes in our diet over the years has been a gradual process, and these days we tend to eat more pasta, rice and noodles compared to chips, mash or roast potatoes.

He’s had a few hospital stays, though these were nothing to do with my cooking I hasten to add, and a night away house hunting on a couple of occasions.

For my part, I had three nights away in Europe on business (Luxembourg, Switzerland and Italy) and 2 months in New Zealand when I visited my brother.
We were in touch one way or another every day, but with NZ I kept forgetting the time difference so his phone would be zinging text messages in the early hours.

Technology has also given us SKYPE, so we could see as well as talk to each other a lot of the time.
He had hoped to go fishing with a friend whilst I was away, but somehow never got round to it.
I did go fishing with my brother, sister-in-law, some members of her family and some friends, and I caught the first fish, and also the only Snapper.
I must say it tasted very nice and I enjoyed myself immensely, especially as I’d never been before.
I kept a journal, and took well over a thousand photographs.
I travelled the full length of North Island on the Overlander train, went across on the ferry to South Island, taking in a Whale Watch in Kai Kora, a visit to Christchurch and a day in Greymouth.

My sister-in-law also took me on several mini treks, and we climbed a volcano, walked round a mountain, participated in a tradition Maori concert, had a coach trip along 90 mile beach and I also spent a week with a friend through work in Napier. I was the credit controller chasing outstanding money and she was the purchase ledger clerk paying it!

It will be the first night on the boat without Hubby to snuggle into. I think Maggie has already got her eye on ‘his side’.
Note: I keep finding little notes everywhere and a countdown of days is attached to the cupboard by the cooker. He’s already called to say he’s arrived at the airport and was being transported to the correct terminal. From the chuckle in his voice, I get the impression it was an interesting journey.
He’s promised to let me know when he’s about to board the plane and when he arrives the other end. His friend is meeting him, and when they get home, he will be sitting down to a goulash. They have plans to entertain him and show him round, and I’m sure he will enjoy himself.

As for me, I’m going to finish my library book and get another, make some Christmas cards, and all being well I’ll have some company this evening as one of the other boaters is on her own too and likes to play cribbage and scrabble.
The wine’s in the fridge, crisps and nibbles in the cupboard.
Roll on Thursday.

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