JanD
maintaining since June'09
Now complete with photos 
So!! We had arranged that I would get to Iris's office around 1pm. Me being me I was in the car sorting out the (borrowed) satnav at 11.45am and left around 11.50 ... waaaaaay too early. I triiiiiiied to slow down on the motorway coz I knew I was going to be horrendously early but I only managed to add about a minute to the eta on the satnav
At about 12.45 after a couple of trips round a one way system and ending up in an alleyway full of bins I rang and heard Iris's voice for the first time. It was really weird to hear her!! (mind you - I found out later when I heard her answer the phone in her office a couple of times that it was her posh telephone voice - with hardly a trace of the gorgeous Scottish lilt I heard subsequently )
She directed me to the car park and came out to meet me. It was AMAZING to suddenly see her in the flesh after talking on here for over a year - quite surreal in a way. She's even more lovely than her pics would have you believe and I don't think those on my camera really do her justice either
Anyway - we walked through the town centre, nattering all the way, to a lovely little courtyard where there was a choice of places to eat. I can't even remember the name of the place we went to - I'm sure Iris will elaborate. The weather was beautiful so we were able to sit outside. The first thing we both did was get our cameras out and busily snap each other and the waitress offered to take one of us both together so that was nice.
We both had a chicken fillet wrap which had tomato salsa, sour cream, salad, olives, crisps & coleslaw either in it or with it! (the chicken was breaded too but we won't mention that) It was very nice, and we both had sparkling water x2 with a wedge of lime.
We talked for England & Scotland then SOMEBODY went off to the loo and sneakily paid the bill - I'm not saying who - but it wasn't me ... nawty nawty nawty Iwis!!!
We then went back through the shopping centre, with a brief stop off in Debenhams for me to get some Clinique face powder, to Iris's office. She FORCED me to walk up 2 flights of stairs - wouldn't allow me to go in the lift (no wonder she manages 18,000 steps in a day!) introducing me to everyone we bumped into - it was lovely, almost like they knew who I was and were really happy to meet me I really felt welcomed.
THEN! She opened her office door and inside there was a birthday banner on the wall, another across a table which was also strewn with confetti and on which there was a huge bouquet of flowers, a gift bag, a card and a cake with candles on it!! I was SOOOO touched. She had gone to so much trouble, not to mention expense, and I felt really special and spoiled!
Iris got someone to come and take photos of us by the table and of me blowing out my candles ..
Everyone was REALLY lovely. I couldn't have wished for a nicer, better afternoon in any way at all. She even makes a good cup of coffee.
We cut the cake and had a lickle piece each, the rest went to the other people we'd seen (hmmmm come to think of it maybe that's why they were so nice to me - they were after MY CAKE!!! :8855
I couldn't believe it when I realised it was nearly 4pm and knowing Iris had to finish up and catch a 5pm train and thinking about traffic building up on the motorways it was time to leave :cry:.
It was actually quite strange because it was really hard to say goodbye :wave_cry:. I think we both kept wanting another hug, neither of us quite wanting the afternoon to end :sigh:.
But of course it had to. One thing's for sure though - it certainly won't be the last time and next time Iris, lunch is on me!!!
AND!! We must sort out our foursome girls - let's not let time run away with us!!!!
What I've discovered tonight is that now, when I read Iris's posts I hear her voice - I LOVE it, it's brilliant
I can't thank you enough Iris - I thought I was just going out for lunch. Instead I was spoiled & pampered. It's been a completely special day and one I'll never forget. You are a beautiful person and I'm honoured and proud to call you my friend.
:thankyou::thankyou::thankyou::flowers::hug99:xxxxxxx
So!! We had arranged that I would get to Iris's office around 1pm. Me being me I was in the car sorting out the (borrowed) satnav at 11.45am and left around 11.50 ... waaaaaay too early
. I triiiiiiied to slow down on the motorway coz I knew I was going to be horrendously early but I only managed to add about a minute to the eta on the satnav At about 12.45 after a couple of trips round a one way system and ending up in an alleyway full of bins I rang and heard Iris's voice for the first time. It was really weird to hear her!!
(mind you - I found out later when I heard her answer the phone in her office a couple of times that it was her posh telephone voice - with hardly a trace of the gorgeous Scottish lilt I heard subsequently )She directed me to the car park and came out to meet me. It was AMAZING to suddenly see her in the flesh after talking on here for over a year - quite surreal in a way. She's even more lovely than her pics would have you believe and I don't think those on my camera really do her justice either
Anyway - we walked through the town centre, nattering all the way
, to a lovely little courtyard where there was a choice of places to eat. I can't even remember the name of the place we went to - I'm sure Iris will elaborate. The weather was beautiful so we were able to sit outside. The first thing we both did was get our cameras out and busily snap each other and the waitress offered to take one of us both together so that was nice.
We both had a chicken fillet wrap which had tomato salsa, sour cream, salad, olives, crisps & coleslaw either in it or with it! (the chicken was breaded too but we won't mention that
) It was very nice, and we both had sparkling water x2 with a wedge of lime.
We talked for England & Scotland then SOMEBODY went off to the loo and sneakily paid the bill - I'm not saying who - but it wasn't me
... nawty nawty nawty Iwis!!! We then went back through the shopping centre, with a brief stop off in Debenhams for me to get some Clinique face powder, to Iris's office. She FORCED me to walk up 2 flights of stairs - wouldn't allow me to go in the lift
(no wonder she manages 18,000 steps in a day!) introducing me to everyone we bumped into - it was lovely, almost like they knew who I was and were really happy to meet me I really felt welcomed.THEN! She opened her office door and inside there was a birthday banner on the wall, another across a table which was also strewn with confetti and on which there was a huge bouquet of flowers, a gift bag, a card and a cake with candles on it!!
I was SOOOO touched. She had gone to so much trouble, not to mention expense, and I felt really special and spoiled!
Iris got someone to come and take photos of us by the table and of me blowing out my candles ..
Everyone was REALLY lovely. I couldn't have wished for a nicer, better afternoon in any way at all. She even makes a good cup of coffee
.We cut the cake and had a lickle piece each, the rest went to the other people we'd seen (hmmmm come to think of it maybe that's why they were so nice to me - they were after MY CAKE!!! :8855
I couldn't believe it when I realised it was nearly 4pm and knowing Iris had to finish up and catch a 5pm train and thinking about traffic building up on the motorways it was time to leave :cry:.
It was actually quite strange because it was really hard to say goodbye :wave_cry:. I think we both kept wanting another hug, neither of us quite wanting the afternoon to end :sigh:.
But of course it had to. One thing's for sure though - it certainly won't be the last time and next time Iris, lunch is on me!!!
AND!! We must sort out our foursome girls - let's not let time run away with us!!!!
What I've discovered tonight is that now, when I read Iris's posts I hear her voice - I LOVE it, it's brilliant
I can't thank you enough Iris - I thought I was just going out for lunch. Instead I was spoiled & pampered. It's been a completely special day and one I'll never forget. You are a beautiful person and I'm honoured and proud to call you my friend.
:thankyou::thankyou::thankyou::flowers::hug99:xxxxxxx
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