Parties and Pedicures ... !

Happy weekend all!

How are the Christmas preparations going?  Got all that shopping done yet?  

Christmas festivities are in full swing here.  As I briefly mentioned at the end of last week's episode, we were on our way to our first US style 'Holiday Party' ... and what a party it was!  After checking the address, twice, we pulled up in front of a HUGE house, with every available wall, gutter, tree and shrub covered in sparkly white lights. Wow!  It reminded me very much of the house in the film Home Alone (minus the precocious kid).  The front door was ajar, and as we gingerly made our way inside it felt as though we had stepped into a (very tasteful) Santa's Grotto.  It was gorgeous!  After navigating our way to the kitchen, past the violinist playing Christmas carols ... nice touch ... and counters bursting with platters of caviar, pate and assorted cheeses, plus a plethora of tiered cake stands laden with gourmet chocolates ... OMG ... we finally found our hosts and their other guests outside.  More sparkling lights were floating on the top of a brilliant blue pool and a waitress was waiting to serve us at a full service bar set up on the patio.  Again ... WOW! As it was an adults only party, we had left Ethan at home happily ensconced on the sofa with a gadget on each arm, a movie on the TV and a large bar of Galaxy (thanks to his Nan on her recent visit), but even so I was still only comfortable with leaving him for a couple of hours during the evening and so we didn't stay too long.   As it turned out, that was plenty of time, as whilst we did meet a few genuinely lovely people, some were .... shall we just say ... 'very Scottsdale' (plus I was terrified that after a few more glasses of wine I would end up stepping backwards into the pool which was terrifyingly close!).  It was certainly another new experience for us and we really enjoyed it.

This week the day of the 'Mothers Tea' also finally dawned (at 11.30am *rolls eyes*).  Even though the number of attendees was less than half of the 80 originally anticipated, only 32 to be exact (bearing out my earlier theory that most sane people would not want to pay $50 for what was essentially tea & cake in a school library), it was actually very nice, (although triangular shaped scones in Chocolate and Blueberry varieties would never cut it at a British tea!).   Miss South Africa did a great job of pulling it all together, despite the objections from the 'old timers' but was forced to concede on the choice of speaker ...  a lady who came to talk about 'urban farming' ... ugh ... but she had offered to do it free of charge, so we were never going to win that one!  I even managed to convince the lady sitting next to me to try hot tea with milk (which amazingly she had never had before!), after which she declared she would be drinking it like that from now on.  Success!

Right ... must make that appointment at the Nail Salon ready for upcoming weekend in San Diego next weekend (I always dread calling as it is run by a scarily bossy Vietnamese woman who has not quite grasped the concept of customer service...)

"I'd like to make an appointment for a pedicure please... with Vivien if she's in this week"

"OK.  When you wanna come?"

"Thursday morning if possible?"

"Wednesday?"

"No, Thursday ..."

"We do Wednesday"

"No sorry, I can't make Wednesday.  Do you have anything Thursday?"

*much sighing and tutting*. "Ok, 9am"

"I could be there by 9.15 but not before unfortunately"

"Better for Vivien 9am"

*well it's not bloody well better for me!*

"Sorry.  I can't get there before 9.15 ... "

*more tutting and sighing* ...

"OK ... what name?"

"Beverley"

"Ha! You already have appointment Friday!"

"Sorry, what? ... no, I don't think I do"

"Yes you have appointment "

"Erm ... no I definitely don't"

"Yes, yes ... Friday 10.30 ... manicure & pedicure ..."

"No, sorry, that's not me"

"Yes, it is ... your name Beverley?"

"Well, yes, but maybe another Beverley?"

"Oh. Same name. Hahaha". 

Extra, Extra! Read all about it!  More than one Beverley found to be living in Phoenix, Arizona ...!

"Ok, manicure ... Thursday 9.15 ..."

"Er... no ... it was just a pedicure ...?"

"No manicure?"

Oh good grief. I give up.

"Fine. I'll have both ..."  *sighs whilst imagining scary Vietnamese woman smiling to herself with smug satisfaction*

Both manicure and pedicure turned out lovely, in case you were wondering - Vivien does a great job - despite Mr B stepping on my toes not once but twice at our dance lesson the very same day (clumsy oaf)! 

As you read this, we are enjoying said weekend away in San Diego to celebrate my birthday - more about that next week - so if you'll excuse me, there's just time for a nightcap in the bar before we turn in (well it would be rude not to wouldnt it?)

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your company as always.

TTFN

Bev X