I Will Never Crawl Into My Shell!

I don't even own one, let alone know where it is! And if I did, I would refuse! I will never go into a shell!

Lunch today went of with a "bang!" It was great! Lunch commenced around about 11.30am, with glasses of champagne and an antipasti. From there we wandered on freely to red and white wine...depending on who liked what! I like red...Paul likes red, but drinks white because red gives him gout...Fia enjoys red because it gives her a good feeling! We worked our way through four courses...My God! Antipasti....seafood fritters with sweet chilli sauce...followed by chicken with cherry and golden tomatoes, mushrooms in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, topped with crumbled feta cheese and a tossed green salad with garlic croutons and crisp, crumbled pancetta on the side. And, of course, golden roasted potatoes! Then...Oh! Dear! Forgive me....the berry mousse I wrote about earlier! And there is more...coffee, liqueur...and of course, dark chocolate mini-Easter Eggs! I should be shot!

But before putting myself in front of the firing line...moments after Paul and Fia left...I was still in party mode. I can tell you here and now....that is danger zone as far as I am concerned! (More for those nearby or afar...no one is safe from my evil clutches!)

I take no prisoners when I am in this or that mood! I am an enemy to the world! The Taliban and Bin Laden have no idea! Boy! Do I wish they would dare to confront me when I am in this mood!

Feeling no pain...I rang my landlords...who, I should remind you only live about 800 metres up the pass, beyond the pond, from me. After all, it was and still is, Easter Sunday...I said "Hey! Can I come up and have a drink with you for Easter?"

And they replied...."Of course you can! But we do have friends coming over for dinner."

Firmly, I replied, "That's okay...I won't stay long...I only want to have a couple of wines with you, then I'll shoot through! Are you ashamed of me...the serf from the cabin?"

"Of course not! Come on up...you don't have to shoot anything!" Was the answer. Where is my hunky gardener when I want him. I keep thinking I'm "Lady Chatterley!"

So, with a bottle of red wine under my arm...up I went! En route I didn't fall into the arms of the gardener!

My landlord's brother was there! His first name is my last name...poor guy! And he is terrified of me...I am sure. (I think he is terrified of any woman!) I have met him before...and his manner has never altered. He is terrified of me! But I, not of him!

(His fear of me is like placing a red flag in front of a bull! Not that I'm saying I am a "bull"! Of that species, I am the female...probably...okay...if you must...a "cow"!)

Anyway, the other guests arrived soon after I made my crashing appearance! I still had a bottle of red to finish. Robert, Bob, the other half of Anne, the guests who were the invited ones, turned up. And, as it happened, we had met at the Christmas party last year. I didn't recall, but they did. Bob sat next to me and soon we were engrossed in animated conversation.

Funny how things turn out...it is a small world after all...he and Anne, his wife, spent a week on Hinchinbrook Island... a couple of years or so after my time there, but we, Bob and I, had lots to talk about. My few moments with my landlords, to share an Easter drink, turned into much longer...but it was great. Bob, who is a true "English Gentleman", living here in Aus...he wore a striped jacket over tailored slacks and perfectly ironed shirt...epitomising someone from the "old school" (speaking, I must add, with a very "South Yarra" accent!) and I chatted, sharing something in common. I think he was a bit amazed by the stories I told him, stories that are true. It was interesting to meet someone who had been a guest on Hinchinbrook Island...at a time when I wasn't there. I think he found it interesting, too, learning about how it was at the resort when I was there...to hear stories from me, from the "other side".

I live, I believe, a secular life, but that is okay...I am so grateful for having the guts to have done some of the things I have done. I don't ask for or need any medals for doing what I have chosen to do. I chose to do certain things because I wanted and needed to do them. They were of my own choosing. I would do them all again...and more. I will be dead a long time. I never thought I could do some of the things I have done, but I guess, deep down inside, I believed I could, when no one else around me thought I could...or would!

What it all boils down to is this...believe in yourself. Never listen to whatever anyone else has to say about you. Look within...that is what is most important. To hell with the rest of them!

PS....tonight, because of the happy mood I'm in....I telephoned three very good friends of mine....one I've known for many years...she and I go back a long way....another I've known not as long as the first, but equally as special to me...and the other...well, he and I go back about nine years...and he is very special to me. It is Easter, after all....a time to share with those you love. Life is good!