Penfold and Driving.

I am sat at Penfold's laptop after having a lovely couple of days in deepest Wiltshire. He recognized that I was grumpy, spikey and travel weary upon arrival so he made a command decision,  dumped my bags and headed into Magic Roundabout land for a Chinese. We were lucky to secure a table at a place called Rendezvous, next to The Wyvern Theatre. It was buzzing with happy, well fed people. I know this as I sneaked a look at the food as we were shown to our table.

The Menu was long and complicated as it's a 'fusion' place. Penfold pointed out that we could have anything we wanted for the paltry sum of £19 per head. I was a little nervous about this as you had to 'finish what you started'. My  appetite is a small one ( for food, not life...) and I wondered if I would cope. We ordered four starters. Bloody fantastic food followed and we happily shared them, catching up with each other in a great atmosphere. We ordered another three starters and an appetizer. We enjoyed those too and were satisfied with what we had eaten. We asked for the bill and the waiter said 'No main' with a quizzical look on his face. He could not believe that we finished. Yeah we had finished and enjoyed. I think we made his day!

We spent an enjoyable Saturday together, plodding and eating and drinking lots of  lovely wine. Sunday morning arrived, Penfolds plan was to get up early and go to a Car Boot. 'Sure' said I, knowing damn well that an 06.30 start was not or never had been part of my Sunday. Penfold actually slept until 8, seems that I am wearing him out.

We decided to go over to Marlborough for lunch. On the way there we had the 'driving' conversation. I hate being driven. If I wanted to be driven then I would employ a Chauffeur. I am your 'nightmare' passenger and need a strip of gaffer tape upon my mouth, in order to behave.  Penfold is a a wonderful, gentle, well mannered guy who drives like a 'Bad Ass'!  He has no regard whatsoever for passengers and if he is on his home territory then you are thrown around like a feather in a pillow fight. He is behind the wheel and nothing else matters. Ok, ok, I admit that he is a bloody good driver with excellent reactions but he sometimes forgets that there is someone in the car with him! Also he is a typical bloke as far as direction goes. I have an inherent sense of direction and as a Donut Child, only usually get mis-placed for a mile or two. Donut children do not get lost. Blokes do and from experience (yeah, that's you Dad) I  realise that women are much better navigators than men. Luckily Penfold had  me as Chief Navigator and we were untouchable.

A stroll around Marlborough and lunch followed. I haven't been in the area for some 24 years. I lived at RAF Upavon with my new husband and it was our first married quarter together. Oh, poor but happy times. Penfold and I finished lunch and he drove me to RAF Upavon, which unbelievably still exists and is looking quite smart. I directed him back, along another road, that I recalled from that time. Why?? can I remember 20 odd years ago so clearly but cannot remember what I had for breakfast? It really has been a trip down memory lane today so thank you for putting up with waspish comments about your driving Penfold and taking me back through that lane.

On the journey back to Penfold's Pad we were talking about the role women play in the armed forces today. My opinion is that women have no business on the front line. A woman is put on this earth to give life, not to take it. It may seem simplistic, but those are the rules of nature. Women have an important role to play in SUPPORT of the front line. That is what they are brilliant at. Multi -tasking , organizing, getting things done and doing them well. Holding a gun, carrying a stupidly heavy pack and running around with blokes who are three stone heavier than you and two foot taller than you is not clever. Penfold disagrees with me. That's fine. He hasn't been in the situation my Uncle has been in. As a States of Jersey Police Officer, he has seen some pretty nasty incidents. He has only ever been injured on duty, whilst being backed up by a five foot nothing, 7 stone female. The facts speak for themselves, I will not apologise for my opinion.

Time for me to lay my head down now. Penfold has fed me with home grown garden vegetables and  bandaged my sore foot.  I have had a couple of glasses of pink and Penfold is chuckling at Top Gear as we speak. time for bed said Zebedee!

Take Care out there

Namaste

Muse x