July 5th (Sat)

A texts to cancel her appointment. the chance of a lie in assuages any annoyance. I mooch around the barren house (everything has been decamped to the garage or our bedroom to facilitate the projected decoration) until I am invited to view kitchens in Reading.Apparently no one there has prepared for our visit, so H starts a war. Emsy comes running to warn me, and we both keep clear.
H & E go to Primark and I am left to my own devices in Reading until 5. Joy! I go to the much vaunted "Oracle" shopping centre. Like Wycombe's pathetic effort, this is mainly outside, though in Reading's case, the buildings front onto the wide Kennet and Avon Canal, which make this as attractive as a modern shopping complex can be. The waterfront is lined with restaurants, and herein lies the tragedy. There are 16 restaurants that I can count, and not a single one of them is independently owned. 16 bloody chains offering perfectly edible, dull, predictable fare. A mock Italian chain, a pretend tapas bar, copious pizza chains, burger joints, tex mex emporiums.Not a single dish that hasn't been approved by committee and proven to be financially viable.
How lovely it could be, in the french style. Two dozen tiny restaurants to browse, each the love of their owners' life,,the dishes lovingly created, and the pride of those who cook them. And in fact it could be so much better than France. In France you eat French, here you could have French Italian Polish, Spanish, Chinese, Indian & Thai. But what do you get? You get heated up chain store food.
Someone is arrested for the murder of the french students.
Back from reading, and again I crash out. This tiredness is what I went to the Doc complaining of about a year ago. I have to a certain extent kept an eye on my weight, but after a promising start, it stopped coming off. I am probably a stone overweight, and my briefly interrupted love affair with butter is now back in full swing.
I bought some terrific dvds in Reading for a quid apiece.3 Laurel and Hardy shorts, and a couple of newsreel type affairs from the Apollo programme. They turn out to be a true bargain.
We have half price M&S Cocquilles St Jacques. They are delicious, and it is ridiculous we eat this delicacy so infrequently. A recipe must be looked up!
Drop off Sophie at her friend's, pick up D and another day is over.