Mavis

One Street: Market Square, Shipley #145

I was delighted to bump into Mavis at lunchtime. I used to see her regularly (you've seen her before here) but I hadn't spotted her in Market Square for quite a while ... and there is always that worry when you don't see the older folk around that they may have popped off. Mavis said that she's finding it more difficult to get about these days and she's now lost all of the close friends she used to meet here in town. There's not so much reason for her to make the journey any more.

I sat down next to her while she was having a smoke and we got talking about, of all things, the World Cup. She's supporting the Netherlands now as she wants to see a European team win. She's a big fan of Arjen Robben! We then got talking about the tennis. I find this generation to be very opinionated and quite forthright about offering up those opinions. Their non-political correctness can be both disturbing and very funny. She expressed her delight in the exit of Andy Murray. She's never liked him, nor his mother. She told me that she thought his poor performance in the quarter finals was down to the distraction of his new coach!!

Another day to forget at the office but it at least finished on a high with a walk on the moor and a meal at the Cow and Calf pub with Lulubelle and M - washed down with a beer which has again quite knocked me out for the count!