Drinks In The Rose Garden

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We have recently subscribed to a joint funeral plan which offered a free will writing service. It is a distinct example of my ability to grasp ambivalence that I can prepare for the inevitable whilst at the same time feeling it is not going to happen to me.

By appointment today, the will writer telephoned and gleaned all the necessary information for her to draft up documents for both of us. As the Administration Department of our marriage I then prepared Jackie’s application for a renewal of her driving license. She signed it, of course. It hasn’t found its way to a post box yet.

This afternoon I watched the Wimbledon quarter final tennis match between Roger Federer and Kevin Anderson. I will not give away any details for those who may have recorded the game, save to say that there was a certain amount of consternation that it might continue long enough to clash with England’s World Cup football semi-final contest with Croatia.

Have no fear, we even had time for drinks in the Rose Garden, where, in addition to the many roses, we could enjoy other plants such as lilies and the Lanarth White lace cap hydrangea.

We watched the first half of the football on the sofa with bowls of Jackie’s superb pork paprika on our knees. This was served with new potatoes and chantenay carrots. I drank a Mendoza Malbec 2017 and the Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden. Now we are going to see the second half.

66 comments

  3. I think most of us have that ability to feel immortality is ours while chatting about which casket is preferred…….. I love that you can have drinks in the rose garden!

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  6. Having lost a loved one who had funeral and burial plans and having lost one who did not. I see the great value in preparing ahead for those we will leave.

    Your roses are stunning! 🙂 “Days of Wine and Roses”. 🙂

    HUGS!!! 🙂

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  7. Well, Derrick, the idea of “Death is for others” got a lot of people through WW2 so it’s worth a go!! It’s certainly my best plan so far.

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  9. Hi dear Derrick, at last I make my way over here my friend, and am delighted to be greeted by such a wonderful garden filled with roses..
    I watched the said Tennis Match.. what a great match it was too..
    The football ended as i thought it would, but to be fair, this young team did well compared with other years..
    I can show my age to say I do remember when we won the world cup and remember all those football collector cards in the school yard too, to swap..
    I am afraid it will not be coming home this time..
    Hope you are well..
    Enjoy the rest of your week..
    Sue 🙂

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    1. Many thanks, Sue. It was a marvellous tennis match, and the lads did do well. I, too, remember 1966. That year I played cricket against Geoff Hurst who was playing for Essex 2nd XI

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    1. Wonderful, Brian. Many thanks. This prompted Jackie to say: “You never promised me a rose garden, but you did make me one”. A most uplifting song

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  15. Drinks in the rose garden sound wonderful, Derrick and Jackie! Here’s to many more years of roses and fine wine for the two of you. 🙂

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  16. Beautiful roses, Derrick. Sorry England lost to Croatia. Our writers’ critique group was meeting in our favorite Mexican restaurant while the game was being broadcast.

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  18. Good morning!!!!

    “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”

    ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

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  26. The roses look lovely. I’m now imagining the scent.

    I now feel the need to quote Dowson, as he relates to both roses and funeral plans.

    They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
    Love and desire and hate:
    I think they have no portion in us after
    We pass the gate.

    They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
    Out of a misty dream
    Our path emerges for a while, then closes
    Within a dream.

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    1. Brilliant quotation, Quercus. The scent, now combined with that of the lilies in the urns, is amazing. Practically all the roses were chosen for their scent. Thanks very much

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