We set off fairly early from North Bend on a cool sunny day and stopped at the local bakery. Geoff had praised this small establishment and Maggi bought a coffee and a pastry. Her face showed her disappointment. We sat outside the store while she consumed her breakfast and looked in front of us at the magnificent Mount Ti.
An uneventful trip back and we headed to Whole Foods on 15th Ave W. Nothing unusual when we looked at the bill, an exorbitant price for the articles in our basket. Returning to 3118 to find Alex stressed about an imminent article due to appear.
We had lunch and then a break before we headed to the local wine bar on McGraw St. I bought the first round of a bottle of Picpul. The price label said $22 I paid $47 without a tip. Alex bought the next round of cocktails and I’m sure she paid twice as much.
We left the bar and headed home to sort the girls out for a stay-over. When we arrived at the second home we found that we had arrived ¾ hours early. We played basketball in the yard until granted access to their pristine home that overlooks the city of Seattle. A few other couples arrived with their daughters and we stood around the kitchen island chatting.
We left first and came home quite early but I think Alex had had a tough week so she choose the bed option and we followed shortly afterwards.
Saturday 24 th
A strange day began with me in the basement practicing yoga. I had yogurt and banana for breakfast and then walked up to Ken’s Market for a few provisions. On the way back I started to feel a bit strange.
I popped by the place where Carrie had spent the night and as I knocked on the door I heard Maggi and Alex chatting away further up the street.
We came back home and I spent most of the rest of the day in bed. I wasn’t really I’ll just very lethargic. I stayed in bed most of the rest of the day until we all drove off to watch the Seattle Sounders. Alex had arranged to use Bill’s box which others from the Foundation and Ventures also occupied. The match ended 0-0 and bored the pants off me. The standard of the football resembled Division 1.
We left 5 minutes early and avoided the crowds driving out of the car park. I was pleased to get back and I went straight to bed.
Sunday 25th June
I woke up at 7:30 but didn’t get out of bed until until 10:15 because I still felt somewhat lethargic from whatever I ate yesterday. I didn’t have any breakfast, which is unusual.
I mooched around the house for the rest of the morning and then after lunch went to Apollo Nails. Alex had decided to give me a pedicure as a Father’s Day present. Apart from the inadvertent tickling of my feet with a scrubbing brush I really enjoyed the pampering.
A walk to the local bookshop proved a waist of time and I walked back while Maggi, Alex and Sadie drove to Kraken Ice Rink for a children’s party. I walked back to home and shortly afterwards Alex and Maggi arrived. Alex and Greg then set off to Alan & Gail’s house. We stayed behind because neither of us wanted to start drinking at 4 pm when we knew the plan to go out for a meal in the evening would involve drink.
As part of this mid-afternoon schedule we promised to drive down to Kraken Ice rink, the scene of my broken shoulder 18 months ago, to pick up Sadie from her party.
As soon as we returned we set off again to Laura and Jeremy’s house for dinner. I really like Jeremy, he is such a witty, clever man who could keep you entertained for hours. We had a nice meal of salmon, cauliflower, and a couple of salads. We brought a cake, as well as alcohol. Jeremy recounted the story of his older cousin who had just introduced a new sibling into his family arrangements. The new boy is the son of Gill, Jeremy’s cousin, and a Chinese woman. Apparently the cousin has been indulging in extra-marital sex for sometime. It all seemed a very dramatic family situation for all concerned especially the 3 grown up children of the original family.
We left around 9 because both Sadie and Carrie had accompanied us and they had school the next day. We went via the sea front of West Seattle where Laura and Jeremy live.
Monday 26th
Funny sort of day after breakfast with the kids gone to school Maggi and I drove to the Botanical Gardens in Bellevue. What a lovely place!
If I lived in Seattle I could imagine myself being a regular visitor in this tranquil and beautiful place. Of course this is the best time of year to visit as many of the flowers are in full bloom. However the paths wind round and offer all sorts of botanical environments go the visitor to enjoy.
We came back to the house and Maggi told me that the mammogram for Al had come back negative. All of us are relieved.
Around 4:30 Maggi, Al and myself took the dog for a walk and had a cocktail on McGraw St. Maggi returned home and Al and I continued on a walk on the hills of North Queen Anne.
A quiet evening in after a nice Maggi cooked vegetarian supper. It would be nice if the au pair Dana helped clear up.