After Jilly’s super party back in January – reported here – I wanted an opportunity to return her hospitality and also to catch up properly; it’s never sensibly possible to do that with the host of a party at the party itself.
So we arranged to meet for dinner a few weeks later, settling on Barshu. Jilly’s always liked my taste in oriental food and I thought top notch Sichuan food might be novel to Jilly and make a change for me.
Jilly left it a bit late to respond to a few choices I put to her:
You’ve guessed correctly. I think I’d prefer Chinatown rather than City, and the Sichuan does sound intriguing, but if it’s that good, I understand that it may be already booked.
It wasn’t already booked so I booked it.
The e-mail trail also informs me that Jilly was running a little late:
If you get this message, forgive me, I’ll be a little late. Running time of No 55 somewhat/entirely misjudged…?
I like the penguin.
I think I got some reading done while waiting and I don’t remember waiting all that long.
We talked about all sorts of things, but of course a major topic was the parent situation; all past tense in my case, some past and much still tense in Jilly’s.
The evening flew by, like it does, very pleasurably. The food was excellent; it always is in Barshu.
Jilly and I agreed it had been too long since we last had a meal and a chat. We agreed not to leave it so long again next time; which we won’t, but still we’ve left it longer than we’d ideally have liked. That’s what grown-up life does to us all.
Dear Ian,
Thanks for reporting the lovely evening we had at Barshu; I’d forgotten about the number 55, and am glad that you liked the penguin, as well as the company;I really enjoyed it too and certainly wish that grown-up life did not prevent meeting more frequently.
Speaking of less grown-up times, I was trying to remember the house that I came to visit you in when you were at university in the Keele. I can remember very little, apart from the fact that both housemates had long hair, and I think his was longer than hers, or was it his beard? Anyway, I wonder if you are still in touch with them? It seems such a long time ago now …
Thanks for the comment, Jilly. I’ll have to put my thinking cap on to work out who you mean. Housemates with long hair doesn’t whittle it down much. Do you mean my flatmates Pete “Hippy” Wild and his then girlfriend Mel?
There are some photos from your visit to Keele (did you only visit the once), here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ianlharris/albums/72157632840694111
I’ve guessed 1984 but it might have been a little earlier, e.g. 1983. When I get to the relevant diaries a bit more will be revealed!!