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A Topsham luncheon party
Aug. 1st, 2008 05:50 pmTruly inspired decision on P&M's part to have a luncheon party at their place to mark P's imminent retirement. I thought their flat, in a converted 18th century manor house on the Exe, rather grand but M referred to it as shabby chic — clearly we have different ideas of what constitutes shab! We had a wonderful lunch, for which M had laid on vast quantities of food, and good time was had by all, despite being kept indoors by the unreliable weather.
As is my way at parties, I soon abandoned the main event in the drawing room in favour of the kitchen, where I ended up chatting to P&M about their post-retirement plans. Having been a civil servant for 44 years, I imagine that leaving is going to be quite a change for P. I know that we're all going to miss him terribly. He's always been the wise avunculus of our group, there to offer sage advice, to smooth over disagreements and to mediate between us when we fall out; he's very much the Rupert Giles to our Scooby Gang. But I think he's picked a good time to go and, God knows, he more than deserves a chance to relax and do other things, so I can't really begrudge him his retirement.
As is my way at parties, I soon abandoned the main event in the drawing room in favour of the kitchen, where I ended up chatting to P&M about their post-retirement plans. Having been a civil servant for 44 years, I imagine that leaving is going to be quite a change for P. I know that we're all going to miss him terribly. He's always been the wise avunculus of our group, there to offer sage advice, to smooth over disagreements and to mediate between us when we fall out; he's very much the Rupert Giles to our Scooby Gang. But I think he's picked a good time to go and, God knows, he more than deserves a chance to relax and do other things, so I can't really begrudge him his retirement.
