I Left Home A Tad Before Diana,

Diana was going to work as she had been asked to go in, 

I was off into a bright blue day, 

to the station as I was on my way to visit Rainham Steve, 

on the train to Rochester, over the River Medway looking at the Russian submarine moored there, 

and Rochester is as far as I got, as usual the rail companies broke their often repeated phrase, "Let the train take the Strain" by cancelling all of the trains from Rochester onwards down to Rainham, so on to a absolutely packed bus, 

first stop Chatham, 

then up towards Gillingham, on the left, 

I am not sure who he was, but his hat was de rigueur, eventually all of the stations were visited and I arrived at Rainham, the journey taking twice the usual time, but it was all worth it, 

to meet Steve who was waiting for me at the station, arriving at his home the front garden looked it's usual immaculate self, 

and soon to arrive Bob and Debbie, 'Cheers!', we started our meal that Steve prepared himself, homemade chicken liver pate, served with caramelized onion chutney and bread,

then a few pre main course drinks, Steve had a surprise for me, well all of us, 

a upside down wine glass, 

the top was sealed, and filled through the bottom of the glass, 

which you drank it out of, trying not to spill any of the precious liquid, I managed to spill more than enough down myself, note to self, do not try this with red wine!

also I as well as Deb was presented a prescription from Steve's doctor, one made out for myself and one for Deb, prescription wine! could this be why waiting lists at doctors are now so long?

 we followed that with pork loin cooked in cider, with stuffing and boiled new potatoes and veg,

after a long break we were treated to a Baileys cheesecake and cream, 

as well as a huge sherry trifle, all hand made by Steve, they looked and were delicious, a big thank you to Steve for all of the time and trouble he took looking after us, also a big thank you to Bob, who made me a present of his nearly new Panasonic Lumix DMC-Z1000 camera, 

it could not have come at a better time, with us off on holiday in a few weeks to Thailand for myself and for Diana the Philippines and Hong Kong, we chatted into the evening accompanied by a selection of cheeses and a few ports, Bod and Deb very kindly offered to give me a lift home, which was greatly appreciated, I was not looking forward to the bus and train trip home, many thanks indeed, arriving home Diana was already at home, so feet up for a spiced rum or three! we settled down to watch a late night episode of Midsomer Murder, but before we are off to bed a big Thank You to both Steve and Bob, what a day of days!