Thursday Oct 17

Barb came downstairs. “Hi guys, how did you all sleep? I slept really well. I was nervous that all the day drinking yesterday was going to keep me awake.”

Bobbie had fresh coffee and some simple pancakes ready. “Let’s get some food into us. Maybe we’ll drink a little less today.”

There was a knock on the door and the security guard Clive Teller, stuck his head in. “Hi ladies I trust you had a quiet night.”

Barb poured him a cup. “I fell asleep to the smell of bougainvillea it was perfect.”

Clive excused himself.

Trixie stretched. “Thanks for the coffee and pancakes. I slept pretty good too. This is such a nice place. Are we headed out to the markets today? I can only drink so much black coffee no matter how good it is.”

“I think there is a market on our side of town so we could just walk up the hill; it’s not too far.” They agreed and they all brought bags and wallets and sunscreen and hats and walking shoes and eventually arrived at the market.

“It’s cute but pretty touristy.”

“I need some souvenirs for the grand kids; I’ll get something leather for the boys. And some fancy blown glass for Eddie and Charlie. Some of these little bags are beautiful and look, here are some sandals like I used to wear all the time. I’m going to buy 2 pairs.”

They wandered around the market and found a veggie stand. They found tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and okra. They went to the busy fish stall and Bobbie bought shrimp and some whitefish.

Bobbie checked her phone. “I just need to find a butcher and a store where we can get rice and a few other staples. Let’s take this stuff home and get the car so we can go to a grocery store.”

They got back to the villa and found the back door open and a small Italian woman taking garbage out. She spoke flawless English. “Hello ladies, I am Anna and I come in the morning to clean and tidy.”

“Hi Anna it’s nice to meet you. I am Arie’s friend, Trixie and this is Barb and Bobbie, my friends. We will try not to make too much mess for you. Is this where we put garbage? Also, have you met Clive who is staying above the garage? He’s our private security.”

Anna didn’t seem surprised by the fact they had security; the owner Arie, must use security sometimes too.

Anna pointed to a green bin. “Yes, and only compost in here.”

Bobbie remembered she was going to check on the local recycling program. “Thanks Anna, can you tell me where your favourite grocery store is?

Anna described a store on Broad St. that Bobbie realized she’d seen on her map. “Thanks again Anna we’ll try to keep the kitchen clean.”

They headed inside and Bobbie took her purchases upstairs while Barb put the veggies and fish away. Bobbie had a list on her phone of what they needed. There was plenty of barbecue spices and sauces in the fridge and cupboards. Perhaps Arie liked to barbecue; like every other guy she knew. She needed butter and a couple kilos of flour, some baking powder and some sugar. She wanted to make muffins for breakfasts and biscuits to go with salad and jambalaya, she wanted to make Grandma’s sugar cookies too. They met in the lounge and headed to the car to find the rest of their supplies.

By lunch time they were done shopping so they decided to go home since they had food that would spoil if left in the car. “We can go back and drop the food off and then find some place for lunch.”

Barb shook her head. “We should head home, make a couple sandwiches and hang out by the pool. I can share all the plans I made for sight seeing.”

“I’m going to need a couple more swimsuits. I was naive and only brought one; I thought the weather was supposed to be cooler.”

“I brought 3, they don’t take up much room. I could use some breezy tops though.”

“Well can go shopping tomorrow, before Tate’s party. I booked a trip to Goza for Tuesday, I thought that would give us time to get settled.”

Bobbie came downstairs and started frying bacon for BLT’s. She was making enough for Clive too. She went out to the garage, went up the stairs and knocked on his door. Hi Clive I’m making some sandwiches for lunch if you’d like. She didn’t wait for an answer and went back to tend her bacon.

Bobbie made a stack of BLT sandwiches and Clive joined them as they ate.

Barb pulled out some maps and spread them on the table. “So, we go over to Goza Tuesday, where we arrive by boat do a walking tour of the museums and stuff and then come home. Wednesday we’ll drive up the coast, touring as we go and stay the night. We’ll tour some other museum’s and get home late Thursday.”

Trixie thanked Barb. “Are you able to join us Clive, we’ll have an extra seat in the car and Barb organized a room for you when we stay overnight.”

“Sure Clive. The more the merrier.” Said Bobbie.

Trixie hovered over Bobbie and stole a piece of bacon. “Oh, you guys and your museums. There is a wind energy plant up the coast that I’d like to visit.”

“I’ve already planned it Trixie. That’s for next week too, they don’t normally give tours and I have to admit, I dropped your name.”

“Hopefully they’ll roll out the red carpet. Bobbie, these sandwiches are good.”

“I tried to make them like Mark does but mine are still no match. You’re just hungry.”

Clive carried his plate over to the sink and washed his hands. “Thanks for the sandwiches, ladies, I’ll leave you to it. I don’t want to spoil your trip but I’d be glad to join you on your tour.”

Barb nodded. “I know we just ate but have we thought about supper? Can you join us for supper Clive?”

“You ladies are spoiling me.”

“I’m putting the 2 chickens I bought, on a spit and am going to try and cook them on this big barbecue in the massive outdoor kitchen and I bought a luscious nappa cabbage so I want to make that retro chicken salad with peanuts and ramen noodles, I used to make all the time.”

“I used to love that salad, good thinking,” said Trixie.

“I think I’ll have enough chicken to make sandwiches for a picnic tomorrow. I wanted to make jambalaya with the shrimp and sausage and need the stock from the chickens. I am making Grandma’s sugar cookies too. We can have them on our picnic.”

“That all sound so good. We’ll be driving up the coast in our sports car with the warm wind in our hair.”

“Say, wasn’t there a song about that? ”

They finished their lunch and went upstairs to put on their swimsuits. They met at the pool. They sat under a lovely shade and watched the fountain and admired the flowers and the birds.

Bobbie got up and collected their dishes. “I’ve got some work in the kitchen.”

Barb was fanning herself, looking quite relaxed. “I’ll do all the dishes”

Trixie laughed. “I’ll eat everything.”

In a couple of hours Bobbie had her chickens cooked and all the meat cleaned off for bone broth and had baked two kinds of muffins and a batch of cookies. And every dish in the house was dirty.