Gino wins some and loses some

Wake to a glorious summer morning around six thirty and make a full English breakfast with toast and tea, which I eat in the kitchen whilst listening to radio four. After breakfast I take advantage of the sunshine and hang out my freshly washed bedding in the garden and then shower and dress for nine o'clock mass. Drive to North Bar and park just past Sarah's house, before walking the few yards to St. John's, and arrive in my usual pew with ten minutes to spare. I like to arrive early and have time to check the hymns and find the appropriate service in the prayer book, before composing myself and emptying my mind in preparation for the service. As I mentioned last week, I really enjoy the hybrid English and Latin sung Mass, the Kyrie, Gloria and Sanctus sung in Latin. After the service I collect Leslie from Molescroft and we drive to Skidby for coffee because there is a parade in Beverley for Armed Forces day. Leslie was ninety during the week and his family came up from Hampshire to help him celebrate. We had our usual good natured knockabout discussion over the banking crisis, Leslie's view being that people have an obligation to themselves to not get into unsustainable debt, and my counter that just because some people are not very bright doesn't mean it's OK for spivvey bankers and financial advisors to stuff them up with lousy product. We both have a point but the knockabout is fun, Leslie enjoys it and it keeps his marbles working. After dropping him off I phone Gino and offer to take he and Jackie out for lunch for their anniversary. We agree on the Mermaid and I set off straight away as I need to fill up with petrol en route. Whilst I am on the Motorway he phones back to say that Jackie has exercised her executive override, because she has bought huge amounts of food for the Euro 2012 BBQ they have organised for later, so I drive straight to their house. My brothers Andrew and Christ arrive around four, Chris with his wife, Michelle and their son, Dan. Jackie's girls, Rachael and Rebecca are there as well, so we are mob handed for the meal. Gino, being half Italian loves to cook, and surpasses himself for the meal, later we watch Italy get slaughtered by a superlative Spain 4 : 0, Gino's not too downhearted as he drew Spain in the office sweepstake and won £60. I leave straight after the match and get home around eleven thirty.