Page 48 of Old Girls Go Greek
‘I don’t think either of them would lift a finger,’ I said, ‘and I don’t actually know either of them. I see the mayor in the paper occasionally, giving awards to local businessmen. And there was a television crew in Begley Mortimer not long ago, filming an episode of theAntiques Roadshow, and he was there, centre stage, in his robes. Other than that?—’
‘A protest march then?’ Effie said.
‘You know society is seriously messed up if librarians start marching,’ Beryl snorted, ‘and people today just seem to find out things on their phones rather than books.’
I held up an admonishing finger. ‘Nicky says a good librarian can find something more accurately than a search engine.’
‘You’re right. Ah, here comes our food. Gosh, do we really need more to eat?’ Effie said. ‘My trousers are getting tighter by the day.’
‘We have specially selected snacks to go with the wine tasting later,’ I said, ‘which means we will fall out of the place absolutely stuffed.’
‘I bet it won’t be a beige buffet either,’ Beryl said. ‘I’ve not seen a sausage roll since I arrived here.’
* * *
We returned to Hotel Costasjust after one thirty to find Susan and June, wearing almost matching sundresses, already sitting outside waiting for the minibus.
‘I hate being late for anything,’ June said. ‘It’s genetic. I can’t help myself. I’d rather be an hour early than a minute late for something.’
‘Me too,’ Susan agreed. ‘If I say I’ll be somewhere at nine o’clock and I’m late, you’ll know I’ve had an accident. I’d probably be lying on the kitchen floor unconscious.’
‘Or your car will have had a puncture.’ June nodded.
‘Or I’ve had a stroke, or burglars have broken in and are holding me hostage.’
‘Have any of these things ever happened to you?’ I asked.
‘No, but it happens all the time in Los Angeles. I watch that series. And the one in New Orleans. Drug cartels and men with guns all over the place. It’s very worrying, to think they might come to Lower Begley, looking for drug donkeys.’
‘I think it’s drug mules,’ June said. ‘I always worry when I go through security that I’m going to be searched for cocaine. I’d be hopeless with a lie detector. My pulse rate rockets at the sight of sniffer dogs in case they mistake my perfume for something else. My husband bought me Opium perfume in duty-free once; I didn’t dare use it. And I’m just as bad with traffic wardens.’
Beryl snorted. ‘I don’t need any drugs. At my age I can get the same effect just standing up too quickly.’
Susan flapped a hand. ‘That too; anyway, Gregor will be here soon, so you’d better get ready. I am looking forward to this. Apparently there is a wine called Vin Santo, which is like communion wine it’s so sweet. I’m very partial to that. I think it’s the highlight of the Sunday service sometimes. Hurry up, we won’t let him go without you.’
We went off to our rooms to freshen up and in the spirit of holiday enthusiasm, I put on a new sundress I had bought in one of the shops in town. It was quite flouncy and very pretty with a pattern of pink roses. I paired that with some white trainers and admired my reflection in the wardrobe mirror for a moment. I didn’t look sixty-four, did I? Maybe I did. And actually, perhaps it didn’t matter.
I went back downstairs, liking how the full skirts of my new dress swirled around my knees. I would be more adventurous in future with my fashion choices, although if I was honest, I couldn’t really see myself wearing that dress into the local supermarket or opening the door to the postman with quite the same confidence. Still, I had enjoyed buying it, making a choice for myself without having to ask someone else’s opinion, and that had been part of my satisfaction.
‘Right then, the gang’s all here,’ Beryl said from her seat by the front door.
‘And here comes the minibus,’ Anita said, shielding her eyes from the afternoon sun as she looked down the road. ‘Gregor is right on time for once. I expect he is looking forward to visiting the vineyard. Perhaps he gets a preferential rate?’
‘I don’t know much about wine, but I know what I like,’ Dennis said. ‘I can’t be doing with all this hints of gooseberry or chocolate or vanilla. Just give me a nice glass of decent plonk and I’m happy. Anyone agree?’
‘Absolutely right, Dennis,’ Anita said, earning herself an approving nod. ‘And I tend to choose the one with the prettiest label anyway.’
‘As good a reason as any,’ Dennis said.
‘But I don’t think I’ll ever like a wine as much as I liked Tizer when I was a kid,’ she added.
‘No, well, Ronald and I weren’t allowed fizzy drinks when we were children. That’s why I’ve got my own teeth,’ Dennis said.
‘I’ve got my own teeth too,’ June piped up, ‘and I brought a spare set in my washbag.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake,’ Dennis muttered.
* * *
