Today I’ve been on the wild goose chase to end all wild goose chases…..

I’ve been all the way to the USA, away from all my precious people and things and why? Because a client asked me to…..and then forgot! Pah!

Nevertheless, I made it worthwhile (by forcing her to see me and making her see why we are the best company to help her). Nonetheless, I feel cheated. I feel really pissed off to be here on this most slim of promises and not at home where the promises are real, here and now.

The day has been rescued by two people - Lara (who I’ve had a lovely conversation on the phone with) and Patti who took me out for a spot of, well nothing! I said I needed fresh air so she plucked a trip to the Statue of Liberty out of fresh air. We missed the last ferry so couldn’t get across to the island so had to make do with NJ instead. We walked along the pier beside Statton Island, watched the fishermen reel in the one that was ‘that big’, looked at the Statue of Liberty and talked until we’d set the world to rights. We are soul sisters if ever there was such a thing.

She told me about her new man and asked about DM. We talked about Sally and Stanley as well as Jan and Simon and all their broods. We shared our hopes and dreams as we always do when we get together.

By complete fluke, we happened on a restaurant that was simply in our way – to go anywhere else would have seemed rude. The place was in a fabulous setting, on the New Jersey side of the Hudson, on the marina opposite the most easterly tip of Manhatten Island. Its ambience was wonderful, the staff attentive without being pushy and the food? Well, I have never eaten bread better and the rest of the food was excellent too.

But the thing that made it was Patti. She is truly an amazing, kind and wonderful soul. I still wish I was at home but the fact that she was around made being away much less painful.

I’m on the red-eye in the morning, back to my comfort zone and back to DM, Rosie and Archie but I go back with a strong feeling of well-being, borne from a special set of friendships that I have made here in the USA, in a life I never thought I would experience. I go back calm and collected with my soul intact. I live to fight another day!

Now? I'm off to phone Pete.....

...and an hour later I find myself invigorated by another of my US friends. Cheers Pete - until next time when I'm determined we'll meet in person.