Tonight we went to Pulpo Negro for the last time for who knows how long. As usual, the food and the atmosphere were excellent. And we had our favourite waiter who always remembers us and makes the best espresso martini ever. When we left, it marked the final goodbye, for today at any rate.
I walked into town first thing to go on a final shop and decided to walk over the hill rather than take the all weather path. The weather was perfect and the views a delight. It will be how I remember Farnham Park.
I ran into Mark on the way. He was my first goodbye. We commented on the weather, shook hands then went our separate ways.
There was a rather sad goodbye at Starbucks. I told Liv how it felt like leaving my family behind, I’ve been coming for so long. It’s funny how, when Starbucks first started asking for names, I didn’t like it but, now, I think it was an excellent idea. It means, when you’re a regular, it feels like everyone knows everyone and creates a much friendlier atmosphere. Kudos to whoever thought of it.
While I’ll obviously become a regular at the café in Trosa I’ve started to visit on a Wednesday, they will never likely to know my name. And that makes a difference.
There were a few goodbyes in Waitrose (Pamela, Rachel and the woman at the check-out) then, the loveliest unexpected goodbye at the optician.
I haven’t seen Catherine for ages. She now works at the Godalming branch but, occasionally pops over to Farnham and this morning was one of those days. She had met Jackie for breakfast – they raved about the bacon and egg rolls at The Electric Cycle Cafe – and she was about to head back to Godalming when I happened to walk by.
They unlocked the office and we three had a lovely chat. It was a shame that Suki wasn’t there but, it was a brilliant chance encounter and I’m glad I got to say goodbye to them.
On the way home, I was stopped from posting an envelope full of maps to Nicktor because WH Smith was ‘temporarily closed’ for no printed reason. Literally, no printed reason. There were notices in the windows giving just the fact that it was closed. That was annoying.
2 days to go
Possibly the saddest goodbye of the day was with a dear, dear friend who has served me extremely well over the years and garnered many the admiring comment from people I’ve passed in the park.
At first I was going to include my wicker trolley in the move but then figured that I already have a trolley in Trosa and it had a lid and was water proof. Plus, as I said to Mirinda, I have had many years of pleasure from my wicker trolley so it’s not like it was wasted. I donated it to Phyllis Tuckwell so someone else can experience the same pleasure.
It will be very funny if, in some dim future, I am walking to the shops along the all weather path and I spot an elderly shopper approaching me pulling the wicker trolley behind them.
Of course, the packing continued back at the house, leaving us both exhausted and more than ready to feast upon the delights at Pulpo Negro, not least, my favourite dessert. The olive oil and pistachio cake has been MIA for years but it has made a comeback; I like to think, just for me.
Tomorrow will be our last full day in Farnham. On Saturday, we’ll say goodbye to Cockerpoo Cottage for quite some time.
