Feeling quite intellectual

Ste Nina

We spent a very nice day yesterday with friends discussing the last two months' reading group books. We have developed into a nice group of 8-10, all early retirees of similar age and interests- mostly renovating our houses and gardens to various degrees.

For the first time yesterday we settled down to proper organised discussions on the three books. Raymond Queneau's 'Zazie in the Metro', Albert Camus' 'The Outsider' (both books read in English, in case you were wondering), and Alan Alda's autobiography with the wonderful title 'Never Have Your Dog Stuffed'.

Everyone had enjoyed the books, which was also a first. Usually one of us hasn't managed to finish a particular book because of time (actually some people were still a bit behind with the last book) or just can't be bothered to finish a book because they don't like it. We are very proud to say that we have both finished all the books so far chosen, even though we don't always like the subject matter.

During the afternoon one couple were talking about a local restaurant they have been going to. It is a school for hoteliers and the restaurant is open most weekday evenings and lunchtimes for the students to practice on 'real people'. The menus are amazing and several of us plan to try the restaurant out in the next few weeks. Fortunately I wasn't nominated as the organiser of these outings, especially as I was the nominated scribe for the book group this month.

I spent this morning writing up our notes ready to post to the internet which, stupidly, I did live on the website. Then I tried to backspace something out and the whole lot disappeared never to be seen again. You'd think that all those years working as a PA, document formatter and indexer would have taught me to do everything in Word, save it over and over again and then, and only then, post it to the website! I had to write it all over again this afternoon and it took me an hour each time.

Maybe a year out of the workplace has made me forget these basics!