We have just arrived back on the woodland tram from the Metropolis. The weather outside has been beautiful,but we had to return early as Pendragon has an early start tomorrow. But we had the whole of Saturday and this morning to enjoy some of the treats of the city.
Yesterday Pendragon served me breakfast in bed - a wild berry porridge,with assorted other fruits ,and some mulberry toast. He came back to bed after this,and we enjoyed another hour of lying close,and talking, and planning our lives away.
We dressed for the warm weather ,myself in a loose turquoise shift and he in a dark green light doublet and hose. The city looked fine and ready to welcome us as we stepped out into the sunshine. We headed off to the city centre as lots of the supermercantiles were already open. There are lots of visitors in Metropolis at the moment ,very obvious by their stopping and staring at the city architecture,and their using their picture boxes to record their holiday images. They have come from all corners of the elven globe to view the many wonderful sights of Metropolis and enjoy the hospitality of Metropolis folk . City elven folk can be just as nice as the woodlanders,if they feel you need help or are lost in the big Metro.
We walked down to the city centre,grateful for the small breeze,and keeping our eyes open for somewhere nice to have an acorn latte.At this time of year in our Metropolis,everyone sits outside to enjoy maximum sunshine as they dine. We window shopped for an hour,looking at quality summerwear for Pendragon and I. As I used to be working at this time of year,I never really built up a good summer wardrobe. I always had to maintain my credibility as a manager ,by wearing a piece of tailored suiting,whatever the weather. Now that I can wear what I like,I want to find items which project my feminine elven personality,preferably soft floaty skirts,and off the shoulder bodices. We found a couple of items which I really liked - a black top with a floaty long ,black and white skirt, and a navy cape,with matching palazzo pants,and a brightly coloured button-up top. They all look so cool and summery. So my new wardrobe begins. Pendragon hunted through all the elven menswear we could find ,and eventually settled on a pale grey and blue,long sleeved doublet,in a linen material,with two pairs of matching hose which he could interchange. Holding our purchase bags tight in our excited little hands,we set off to cool down in a nearby cafe bistro, The Tearful Turtle.
Inside the cafe seemed to have been recently refurbished,with silver metal chairs and tables,and the walls painted in shiny black and silver.The waiting girl was young,but efficient and before either of us could say "every elven elder except Eddie eats electric eels", she had returned with two hot and steaming pale acorn lattes.We like hot drinks in cool weather ,and would rarely order a cold refreshment. Cold chills my elven molars,and does not cool me down. In contrast, the warm latte does kill the thirst, and my elven gums find it much kinder. Quite hungry after our shopping ,we also ordered two pieces of red onion tart with a chive and butternut salad. Certainly healthy cosmopolitan fare,it really fired us up to complete our shopping spree. As always I felt the need to explore a few used parchment shops. A successful hunt as I found two worthwhile scripts which I felt could be sold on with an ample profit. Pendragon said he would prefer if I bought shoes, as I should be finding some new ones for myself. I begged to be allowed to leave this for another day, as my tiny elven feet were swelling as I tramped around in the heat. The ground underfoot was "Hot enough to fry a pigeon's egg on" as my elven mother used to say. Too hot to go barefoot in the elven way.
We returned to Pendragon's basement toadstool,dropped off our parcels, and headed back out again to find a place in the park opposite to rest our legs and soak up the rays. It was glorious . Many elven couples were doing the same,and some families were playing elven games to get some summer exercise. We lay till five of the cuckoo clock,before gathering up our blanket and heading home for tea.
I had a long soak in Pendragon's kidney shaped bath. He came in with some spice scented oils,poured a half bottle in,and left me to relax in the warm aroma. We drssed in some of our new vestments and hurried out to have an evening meal in our local eaterie, "The Red Pepper House".We sat outside there,and enjoyed watching the evening unfold.Consumed with an interest in just each other, we hardly noticed how busy the restaurant was, or who was sitting at each table.
Truffle pancakes, a mint and green bean ristto, two large mulberry mousses,and oodles of gooseberry wine, passed our lips. We left at eleven, huge smiles for everyone there ,sweet kisses for each other, and walked the 500 yards to reach home.
We slept soundly,falling into each other's arms as Pendragon's cuckoo sauntered out at midnight plus ten, and not reawakening until he reappeared again,, at eleven plus twenty the following morning.
Today,Sunday,dawned and we ate a hearty yoghurt breakfast,before keeping an appointment with the Faery Seamstress who will be making my gown. She wanted to take some new measurements, and show me some sample materials for the bodice and sleeves of my dress.
Soooooooo exciting !.
Pendragon waited outside her studio as he thinks it a little superstitious for an elven man to see the betrothal gown before the ceremony.He was pleased to see me so excited when I emerged in the noon sunshine.
Back home now,we have had a lazy afternoon. Pendragon has read and re-read the Sunday Scandal,and drunk two cups of chocolate latte. I have watered both the front and back gardens, sent some messages to friends and family on my electronic mail box, and consumed two cups of menthol tea.
Pendragon is cooking tonight,so my dinner will be prepared with love as well as two bowls of spinach.
There are no signs of any of our immediate neighbours who all seem to have disappeared for the day. Over at number ten,however. Jeraboa has been busy.For the last three hours he has been attempting to mend the fence. The fence with the gap,destroyed by his own brand of barbecueing ,a few weeks ago . The gap is considerably bigger now than it was three weeks ago,due to Mimsey using it as her own private thoroughfare into Dagwort Holdings. Mimsey is not small,not nearly as small as the hole once was,and repeatedly pushing her fleshy love handles into the gap has rendered it the size of a small barrage balloon. With good intentions,Jeraboa emerged from his shed with a large pile of slats,no doubt to methodically and precisely reshape the border of his land.
Sad to say,he has ignored all form that the fence once took, and carelessly nailed all the pieces in hotchpotch fashion to one another. Wait till Mimsey sees it ! Although she is personally responsible for making it worse, I am sure she was hoping for a much better completion of the repair. Jeraboa might as well have not bothered. Pendragon has bet me ten pieces of geld that it is torn down again by midnight,and that Mimsey will be seen before dawn,dancing in the dew, manifesting a spell to take care of the unfortunate devastation. I feel my money is not safe,as only a touch of magical divination can now save that rotting piece of garden protection.
The fence may be ok. but Jeraboa's hide is far from being out of the woods yet.
Tomorrow I make music at Dingley Dell Radio Network, and a new week begins.
Much love to you all, my fine feathered beauties,and may you all be relaxing in the glow of the day,with copious chocolate crispies and tankards of fine mead to hand. Remember that with work days to come, some of the brew best be left for another time and another day,as a clear head always beats the folly of the grape.
From all at Flowerpot Cottage,fifth toadstool from the left,from your favourite Amarantha,the Rainbow Faery.
