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Mon 5 May
Lovely day at the Breckland Show – nice blustery English spring
day and lots to do and see.
Can’t believe my four-year-old convinced me to
go on a seriously high and fast fairground ride – she enjoyed it
much more than me and, had she not been there, I probably would
have lost my lunch!
Jo's delighted that her husband Dave is back home safe and sound. |
The best news today is that David will almost certainly
be home sometime between 14 and 19 May – I know that doesn’t sound
very definite, but for the Army on operations that is pretty good
information at this stage!
Tues 6 May
Open again today – another five-day week. Finally, I think I have
found a firm in Dereham that will deliver small quantities of salad
and veg on a regular basis for a reasonable price – the rep came
today and it looks promising. The contractor who did the shop's
refit also came to visit today and it was nice to see how pleased
he was with it.
We discussed the "snag list" of mainly minor jobs
that need finishing or fixing and hopefully they will be resolved
soon. But most importantly we discussed the furniture saga – still
not resolved!
Anyone know any spray painters who can change black furniture to
green?! Seriously, there appears to be some in-fighting between
the various contractors, sub-contractors, sub-sub-contractors, suppliers,
manufacturers, wholesalers etc. I’m not actually sure who is who,
so I’m not getting involved.
Wed 7 May
Had two bookings for lunch – that was a first. One party of four
and another of eight – both at the same time and both groups needing
to be back at work within the hour! We managed it – just!
Fri 9 May
Today started with a press call with the British Legion and an EDP
reporter and photographer. The British Legion have kindly awarded
me a Small Business Start-Up Loan and they brought the cheque today.
Hooray. Mr Barclays will be pleased! The EDP photographer took some
interesting pictures while standing on a bar stool, so hopefully
they will look good in print.
More importantly David rang at about 1200 hours our time, and said:
"I’m getting on a plane in two hours and will be at RAF Cottesmore
at around midnight". Great news – just need to work out how I pick
him up and where is RAF Cottesmore.
Sat 10 May
Well, he’s home and chaos has descended upon the house - only normal
when you add a man and his dirty washing to any tranquil domestic
scene. At least he’s the sort of man who does his own washing.
Nicola and I had great fun picking him up last night. We left at
about 10pm, with Nicola in her pyjamas and duvet, and headed up
the A1 to find Cottesmore. Located it just past Stamford at about
midnight and was able to drive right up to the runway as I still
have my MOD ID Card. If I hadn’t I might not have been able to even
get into the camp – must remember that I am a civilian next month!
Anyway, there we were at midnight, parked on the side of a military
airfield, next to the little jets that were parked up for the night
(I should know what they were, but am embarrassed to say that I
don’t. Harriers, Tornadoes…something like that?) and we saw David’s
plane land.
The troops were off the plane really quickly and we were on the
road home by 0145 hours. Nicola thought it all very exciting and,
of course, was chuffed to bits to see Daddy again!
Back to Saturday at home – despite the very late night last night
we were all up early. Stacy and Karen were kindly covering for me
in the café, but I went to do lunches. We had the busiest day so
far and it was absolute chaos. Not sure anyone actually got the
right order, but we kept smiling and apologising.
David was welcomed home with a baptism of fire and was manning the
dishwasher by midday.
So there we are – I think that probably qualifies
as my last entry: The café and shop is open and sort of established.
Well, it's open and we have customers, which at
this stage is about all I should be hoping for. It’s not going to
make me my first million, but it might pay for a holiday by 2005!
Most importantly, it has given me a base in a great
little town that I am really looking forward to spending the next
decade in. Despite the current long hours, it should also, soon,
give me some quality of life…but we shall see.
David is home, war-weary, but looking slim and
fit! Time now to settle down to all the joys of DIY and gardening
in our first ever house.
After 17 years of marriage and 13 different houses,
all of which were rented, this is a major new venture for us.
First priority is a playroom for all David’s computer
and music stuff, and the next is decking in the garden, so we can
have some nice long summer evening BBQs.
Mmm, this house stuff is probably more of a challenge
than opening the café...but no, 91Èȱ¬ Radio Norfolk, I am not going
to record it! Cheers!
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