Comic Opera

Today marks the end of week two of the running comeback and so far, so good. No injuries or illnesses. Today, being Saturday, is market day in Beverley and after a leisurely breakfast, made my way to the Poppy Seed cafe in North Bar Within, where a group of friends meet for coffee every Saturday and Wednesday morning around ten thirty. Afterwards did a little shopping before returning home for routine chores, washing, cooking and cleaning the car, which can also be enjoyable when there is no time pressure and they can therefore be undertaken mindfully.
Afterwards meditated, showered and changed and picked up some older friends to drive to the cinema at Kingswood in North Hull. We are going to see Anna Netrebko in Manon, beamed live from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. We have complimentary tickets because, on our last visit to see "Romeo and Juliet" from Coventry Garden, the system failed and we were given complimentary tickets, which we have used for this show. We arrive at the cinema half an hour before curtain up, as one of my friends is physically infirm, and find ourselves second in the queue. As time passes my friend has to sit on an adjacent seat, and the doors are still not open. Finally at five O'clock the management admits the system has failed again and we receive yet more apologies and complimentary tickets. We now have future tickets to see, or not to see, Rigoletto, La Traviata and La Fille Mal Gardee. I have a suspicion that the problem may be financial as Cineworld are no longer listed on Orange Wednesday web sites.
Consequently we decided to drive to the coast for a late afternoon tea and arrive at the Marine Expanse Hotel on Bridlington's North Bay just after six. The evening light reflecting from the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head, are silhouetted against a calm, milky blue sea. The Expanse is a "time capsule", left over from a more gentile age, and within fifteen minutes we are tucking in to sandwiches and scones served on a silver platter, with accompanying teapots, milk jug, and spare hot water. The waiter, in his fifties, is courteous, prompt and efficient. The lounge, is oak pannelled, well appointed and most importantly, lacking any piped music. In short it is calm and delightful, the view from the window of the late evening seascape provides all the tranquil ambience the heart could desire. It is enchanting and we spend a lovely hour chatting and enjoying the food before driving back to Beverley in the fading light over the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds.
To quote John Lennon, "life is what happens to you whilst you are planning something else." long live serendipity!