First a ritual visit to the Friday Bagel club - I understand Helen has been doing this at 8.30 every Friday morning for about 75 years. Coffee, breakfast bagel, and at least two hours of chewing the fat - talking, not the bagel!
As in 2002, a mere 17 years ago we are made very welcome and at least one of the group remembered me - and asked how Nareesa is! Impressed!
Then a day spent in Raleigh, come rain or shine. Another superb museum, this time of state history, which brought the role of North Carolina in the civil war to life (and also managed to confuse Jo and Helen so much they got lost - in a museum!)
Then a casual stroll via the the state capitol, in the warm sunshine to a Raleigh institution, the The Roast Grill, home of the misspelt Wiener! Where I started with one, decided to have a second, and then a third! And instantly regretted it!
Not only that but just as we were leaving rains of biblical proportions turned the streets in to rivers and everything on the street to saturated mush - including us, despite the umbrella, kindly lent by George the owner of the Grill!
Rounded off with takeaway pizza American style (ie huge) and an introduction to Mexican Train for the three virgins, and a damn fine day was had by all!
There might have been a couple of Laphroaigs to finish the evening!