The Longest Day

Saturday, June 21st—the Summer Solstice and the longest day. It’s a hot one: 31°C, humid, cloudy and muggy; a day badly in need of a thunderstorm to clear the air. I had a 400-mile drive to Loughborough and back to help Monty move out of his house in Loughborough. After four years, he’s all done with university. Packing the car was quick and painless, then a few goodbyes and a spot of hoovering for Monty, and we were away. We drove into town to meet his friends, Jake and Dennis, for a late breakfast at the Centro Lounge. These three chaps have been best mates all through secondary school, and by chance they ended up studying at the same university. It looks like fate will be separating the musketeers now, with Dennis heading off to find his fortunes in Australia, and Jake doing much the same in Canada. 

After breakfast, we set off for the long drive home, windows open all the way to avoid broiling; we arrived around five, in time for a barbecue with the rest of the family and plenty of stories from Monty.