Janet knew there was someone else when John started leaving the house every day, when questioned about where he was going , his response was always the same, he was just popping out. John suspected there was someone else when he heard Janet making a droning noise which he could by some stretch of the imagination associate with humming , Janet was not known for her musicality, this combined with the fact that she seemed to be smiling constantly made him feel there was something not quite right with her behaviour. Truth be told Janet and John have both fallen in love with with someone who has only recently come into their lives and that’s their new Grand-Son,  a bubbly blowing bundle of loveliness who they argue over having cuddles with and who can make them melt with a smile. Every day they wonder what new joy he will bring and who he will talk to and smile at first.

Janet and John are ready and waiting for the fat man in the red suit to arrive, normally on Christmas eve Janet would be in full flight muttering ”bah humbug” to anyone willing to listen. Janet thinks Christmas has become rather obscene but John quite enjoys the whole drinking and eating experience and tries to ignore the more physically demanding aspects such as shopping, wrapping and delivering Christmas gifts. However, this year they are both rather excited as their Son and Daughter-in-Law are expecting their first baby, a boy who was due to arrive over a week ago. Janet who thinks that the most perfect Christmas present would be a Grandson is for once looking forward to Christmas day and will make a point of looking out tonight for a bright star!

Janet and John have enjoyed a Beaujolais nouveau evening at a local Hotel, the night which included a three course meal and jazz band seemed an ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy in the company of their new neighbours. Janet felt that the restaurant manager who was meeting and greeting with a bottle of sparkling wine  in his hand was an indication of good things to come.  There was no great expectation of the wine but the wine buff  managed to talk for almost 10 minutes about Beaujolais nouveau, which fully deserved a round of applause. However, when the chef started to speak about the typically French peasant food he was about to serve, Janet felt the meal was not going to be good, when John mumbled that he eat peasant food every night and didn’t want it on a night out she knew things were about to deteriorate. The rest of the table, which was made up of their new neighbours all appeared to enjoy, even going as far as saying it was good! The overwhelming feeling Janet had was that they were caught up in the Emperor’s clothes fairy tale, if enough people said it was good then more and more people believed it. Having spent the evening eating peasant food and drinking what can only be described as dreadful wine, Janet and John  still managed to enjoy the evening. However, when asked if they would like to go to the New Year evening which was three times the cost, they have declined. Being neighbourly is fine, paying excessively for the privilege is entirely different!