A visitor from Tuvalu

I first read bb's blog 'say la vee' seven years ago and it rescued me from a pit of gloom where I had fallen when I realised that I would never be the paragon of domestic creativity that I saw on other blogs. Since then she has written hundreds of comments and emails making me laugh, encouraging me, kicking me when I am pathetic and sharing some of her own life. But I had never met her and yesterday all that changed.

We walked and talked and then drank and talked and then ate and talked. 

This is what I learned about bb

1.
bb is tiny
She sort of vanished when I hugged her,
trapped somewhere near my waist.

2.
bb has an American accent
Yes!
She says things like "fillay" and "paaaants".
It is utterly charming.

3.
bb is a Jedi Master in scarf tying
She can transform silk into structured clothing
whereas I transform silk into accidents.

4.
bb does not like walking across bridges
Which was awkward because
the high point of our walking tour was
the Jubilee Bridge across the Thames
.
5.
bb's family have heads
I was astonished when I saw photos
because I had assumed
they stopped at the neck.

6.
bb loves the Royal Family
We had to talk about Prince George
and his cute little chubby cheeks. A lot.

7.
bb loves Positano and Paola
I am pretty sure that Paola's ears were burning
with all the lovely things that were being said.

8.
bb does not remember what she has written
I was amazed - I remember it all.
She should hire me as a consultant.

At the end of the evening we looked through the window of the restaurant at great buildings on the other side of the river and bb asked "What are those buildings?" and I said "I don't know". "Well, dear, make it up." she replied. So I did and then I put her in a cab, waved and felt as though a little bit of me had gone back to Tuvalu.