This evening we rallied with friends for dinner at Speaks Clam Bar on Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armand’s Circle. It was a strictly casual enterprise and ended being thoroughly pleasant. It helped too that each of us applauded our respective meal. Speaking for myself the lobster/shrimp/pasta dish – which incidentally had been recommended to me by Her Ladyship – was divine! I can’t recall having lately hoovered a meal quite so greedily! Nor was it the consequence of an appetite being the best sauce for any meal – though admittedly I had intentionally restrained myself since breakfast to ensure that I sidled up to the trough with befitting gusto. This afternoon I applied further oil to the ensuing culinary wantonness by cycling the constitutional 15 kms in addition to having swum afterwards in the pool.

Preliminary to putting on the nosebag this evening we first convened at our friend’s condominium on Longboat Club Road to review recent renovations. The professionalism of the makeover was instantly apparent. I particularly liked the colour scheme (grey and white) which invoked the distinguishing matte of seagulls. Anything of a remotely nautical theme sits frightfully well with me! The newly installed cupboards, drawers, bookcase, kitchen countertop and recessed ceiling lamps were expertly rendered. The replacement kitchen fixtures – though regrettably marred by repeated assembly problems – nonetheless afforded a highly compatible alliance. The accessories and accoutrements were the model of interior decoration.

Our initial acquaintance with our dinner companions arose last year in the most unlikely manner. We had chatted at the pool with the father of our female friend. Subsequently as a result we ended speaking with her, her mother, her husband and one of their two daughters. Collegiality was from the outset the mark of the congregation. We have happily perpetuated the agreeable confab to this day. As we were wont to convey to our dining companions at table this evening we value their association as it goes a considerable distance to enlarge our overall experience as interlopers in a foreign land. Invariably it requires the initiative of a native resident to strengthen the vernacular and for this we are most grateful.