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Party On

So there we were, fish and chips from the Hake Inn at, er, Hakin, balanced on our laps watching the fondant colours in the sky and an unusually flat, calm quicksilver sea. ‘We’ll always remember this evening, won’t we?’ we said, pausing only to blow on piping hot chips.

A romantic tryst at Milford Haven? Not as unlikely as it sound, I’ll have you know. We’ve spent many happy hours on or around the Haven. In fact, we’ve come to some of our best decisions bobbing around in a little wooden boat there. But this time we were looking across the Haven pleasantly passing the time whilst the country made a decision. Well, we will remember Election Night 2010, not because we sat up through the night (all right, I did grab a couple of hours kip at 3.am, but Tom was a real trouper) to watch the dawning of a new government, but for reasons that everyone’s all too familiar with by now.

Ah well, what Laura Kuenssberg (what a star!) has been referring to all day as the ‘fluid situation’ is playing out as I write so my thoughts are now turning to another party. Tomorrow we’re heading south so that, amongst other things, on Thursday I can attend my first Romantic Novelists’ Association Summer Party. Yesterday, in Cardigan, I thought I heard faint cries from the Factory Outlet store and felt it was my duty to investigate. And there they were, these shiny red shoes, cruelly abandoned on a bottom shelf. I felt it was only fair to rescue them and bring them home with me. Shiny red shoes – you shall go to the ball!

Comments

Pondside said…
You softie, you! Just like that - no questions asked, and you were willing to take strange, unknown (shiny) red shoes home with you. Is there no limit to your largess? Mother Theresa of the red shoes - that's you!
Chris Stovell said…
I am all heart, Pondside!!
Frances said…
Oh Chris, those shoes look pretty wonderful to me. I definitely would have taken them home.

Have fun in the shoes, and perhaps tell more about the fun in the next Home Thoughts.

xo
Jenny Beattie said…
Ooh, so lovely. Have a lovely time at the party. Please come back with lots of details so I can pretend I was there.
Sally Townsend said…
Sounds like the perfect spot for your feast and a party on the horizon with new shoes, no wonder you sound on a high !!!
Unknown said…
Look forward to meeting you in person on Thursday!!!

lx
Lane Mathias said…
Fish and chips on a boobing boat sounds very romantic to me.

Have a lovely time at the RNA do. Your shoes will love it:-)
Flowerpot said…
Wonderful shoes Chris. I was going to go to the RNA do which meant we would finally have met up, but life has overtaken me. Maybe next time!
I wish I was going to the party tomorrow. Have fun and enjoy wearing those gorgeous, shiny shoes.
Fran Hill said…
Love the way this begins with fish and chips and ends with shiny red party heels. Varied life, or what?
her at home said…
Didn't your Mother ever tell you what they say about girls who wear red shoes!! Have super time at the party you will I am sure be the belle of the ball!!
Maggie Christie said…
You found those fabulous shoes in Cardigan? I thought Laura K was a star too, but I didn't stay up to watch all night. (Lightweight!) I'm late to this, so the summer party was yesterday. I hope you (and the shoes) had a lovely time!
Fennie said…
Well, what would Harriet have said? But yes those seem serious party shoes. My memory of the Haven is being given a ride on the bridge of a tugboat about a mile up the Cleddau - oh and wanting to rehabilitate one of Palmerston's forts which I though might have been a good place for the school that was subsequently built at Hakin. But all that was half a lifetime ago, or so it seems. Good luck with the romantic novelists but are they themselves romantic? Present company excepted of course. Or are they like the cobbler's children? Wouldn't surprise me. Is (or was?) Barbara Cartland romantic?
Jane Lovering said…
Those are incredible shoes. Wish I'd seen them in action. Maybe you'll wear them at Conference?
sheepish said…
Fish and chips and shiny red shoes what more could any girl ask for? I shall look forward to photos of said shiny shoes at lovely summer party, lucky you.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Oh I am late with this one Chris but I hope you HAD a good time at the Summer Party. Look forward to seeing those shiny red shoes in action at said party ...!

Jeanne
x
Chris Stovell said…
Thank you all for your lovely comments and for visiting. I'm so sorry not to have replied individually, but we've had an extended Relly Round so lots to catch up with on return.
Calico Kate said…
Oh pretty pretty shoes Chris - now what covered the rest of you???
The phrase 'piping hot chips' always but always makes me want to eat some NOW! Just as well B;s ut in the car really!
CKx
Nishant said…
Have fun in the shoes, and perhaps tell more about the fun in the next Home Thoughts.
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