*oh, the shame...*

Mother and I are losing our marbles. No question. We set off this morning for a leisurely run to the nursery, not five minutes in the car from home, to look for some grasses to plant in amongst the gravel that Ed shovelled and spread yesterday. It was pouring with rain, and because my 'waterproof' coat was definitely leaking - I could feel big drips of rain running down my back - we decided that our hearts weren't in it, and left to go another five minutes down the road to a little coffee shop, which is attached to a farm shop. Waitress service, so we duly ordered a cappuccino (for mum) and a decaff cappuccino (for me); the waitress left our bill with the coffees, which we gratefully drank, watching the rain continue to pour down outside, then gradually ease as the sky brightened and the grey clouds receded. "Ready?" I asked, once we'd both drained our cups and smacked our lips appreciatively. "Yes!" exclaimed mother, so off we went. Merrily on our way, stroll back to the car, drive car ten minutes back to my house. Mother comes in (briefly) to say hello to Anja, before getting ready to leave for home, to cook dad's lunch. Mother just about to get into her car, when I say "Oh, SH*T!!!! Did you pay the bill at Hiller's?" A look of abject horror comes over mum's face, as she says "NO! I didn't..." "Don't worry!" I say, "I will phone them, and take the money straight over!" "Will you?" says Mum. "Here's £5 - my treat!!" And off she sped, back wheels spinning in the gravel as she did so. So, off I went, and straight away phoned the coffee shop, beginning "Hello, this is extremely embarrassing, but..." and I got no further before the (very nice) woman at the other end said, "Yes, we know, two cappuccinos!" She was so nice, saying not to worry about it, drop it in the next time you're passing, that as soon as I came off the phone I dissolved into floods of tears at the huge relief of not being thought of as a crook and a thief...so Ed took pity on me, and took the money himself.

Thanks, hun.