Comfort Food and Sound Advice

I HAVE talked often in this column about how privileged I am to have a group of close friends and a wise and wonderful mum, who between them are able to provide support, laughs, pearls of wisdom and baked goods in whatever ratio any given situation requires.

However, on occasion I am reminded that outside of my circle, support and insight can be found and given in the most unexpected places.

Like the proverbial busses, I had never been in The Golden Lion on Glebe Street and then found myself in there twice within a week.

Meeting a friend for lunch, we shared current family dramas, issues and gossip; laughed and chattered and ate proper pub food, gammon, egg and chips for her and for me the prop of the burger world, a bulging, burly slab of beef cooked rare and juicy.

We talked, we advised, we supported and found comfort, in not just the food but the company.

I recounted a story from a few nights previously when I had been in the same pub with another friend for a, start of the weekend/long overdue catch up/quiet drink.

I’d popped to the loo and in the cue had ended up chattering away with a girl. I say girl as she was 18 and it occurred to me that I am now old enough to be the mother of an 18-year old-and that thought momentarily stunned me but did also segway neatly in to a conversation about children and her desire to start a family.

I found myself chattering away about the joy and fulfilment of motherhood and how I always wanted children, but how I was glad I had the opportunity to experience much before parenthood too.

I found myself listening, advising, imparting experience. Poor Amanda must’ve thought I’d ducked out the window or fallen down the pan, such was the length of time I spent dripping, what I hoped, were pearls of wisdom, warmth and experience.

A few nights later I had cause to break it to my children that one of our guinea pigs sadly had an appointment the next day to be put to sleep.

After several vet visits and various treatments, the poor soul was a poorly soul and it was the kindest course for Tiddles. They were devastated and so comfort food was called in and a trip to the chip stall on Sully sea front.

Two red-eyed children peered from the chill of the car park in to the warmth of that van and the lady serving dispensed wise words and experience of her numerous poorly pets along with cones of salty chips.

I guess what this proves is that within and without our own ‘inner sanctum’, there is a wealth of warm and willing folk and the human desire to connect with our fellow human beings is alive and well.

As I bite and chew life’s burger, I take considerable comfort from this knowledge. Hope you do too.