Ship of Fools: Perfect afternoon

Thread: Perfect afternoon Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by HCH (# 14313) on :

On a recent visit to Seattle, I had about an hour and a half to kill, waiting to see an old friend, and I spent it sitting in a cafe with a cup of iced mint tea, an almond croissant and the N.Y. Times crossword puzzle. (Alas, there was one letter I never figured out and I may have made some error!)

That seemed almost ideal to me. What would be your own ideal afternoon?

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

My perfect afternoon would be a warm summer's afternoon spent in a beautiful garden full of flowers, attached to an interesting old historic house - not too big and slightly off the beaten track. There would be a stream, or small lake sparkling in the sunlight, there would be sheep or cows grazing peacefully nearby, and birds calling to each other, and there would be tea and either a really good, generous slice of cake, or else fruit scones with cream and jam to enjoy in the fresh air.

Posted by Porridge (# 15405) on :

It would be snowing, but I would not be on call or on duty, so I would have nowhere I needed to go. (Also: Very Important: Neither staff nor clients nor their friends/families/foes would have any access, by telephone, email or carrier pigeon, to this place.)

There would be a lengthy, well-written, intricately-plotted novel, and a substantial pot of brewed tea (or, as the afternoon wore on toward evening, a glass of sherry), and a fireplace with a plentiful supply of wood close at hand. An affectionate but calm cat might be a nice touch.

Posted by Jemima the 9th (# 15106) on :

Watching six nations rugby (Wales to win, natch) on the tellybox, with mug after mug of tea, buttered malt loaf, and an open fire. I spent a few afternoons like this in childhood, and it's one of my fondest memories.

Posted by no prophet's flag is set so... (# 15560) on :

I can think of a number. One is when I've fallen asleep outside with the wind playing with the leaves and sun overhead, and the sound of people in the distance.

Another is warming my toes after a day of skiing by a fire. Bittersweet cup of cocoa in my cold hands.

Yet another is a very, very cold day, about -40 or 40° (C or F, they're the same down there), and it is still, with ice crystals in the air, and sundogs** are all around the sphere of the sky. Once and only once, we saw a rainbow in a perfect circle between them. It was like heaven come down.

** The first picture in the wikipedia article on sundogs gives an idea.. If you can imagine a complete circle of them with the rainbow circle above...

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Option A:
A spot of window-shopping in Cambridge, followed by what D. and I call the Cambridge Sprint - Evensong at King's followed by a quick sprint along the road for Evensong at St. John's. Even better if followed by dinner in a Café Rouge.

Option B:
Curling up on the sofa with a warm blanket, a book and a teddy-bear. [Smile]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jemima the 9th:
Watching six nations rugby (Wales to win, natch) on the tellybox, with mug after mug of tea, buttered malt loaf, and an open fire. I spent a few afternoons like this in childhood, and it's one of my fondest memories.

For me, just substitute a really good book and an open fire (a turf fire for preference because of the smell) in a quiet room, a comfortable rug and cushion to lie on in front of it, and that would be my perfect winter evening.

Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jemima the 9th:
Watching six nations rugby (Wales to win, natch) on the tellybox, with mug after mug of tea, buttered malt loaf, and an open fire. I spent a few afternoons like this in childhood, and it's one of my fondest memories.

Wales winning, in your childhood? So that means you're either about 50, or in your late teens/ early twenties [Smile]

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

Watching Wales win, eating hot buttered toasted tea cake, then finding Evensong on the radio with Dyson in D ...

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :

One of my perfect afternoons was when Daughter-Unit and I were driving home from (the Blessed) Erin's memorial service. D-U had had a migraine that morning, and was very tired. She thought she might sleep the entire 5-hour drive home, but instead, we talked about everything: the service, the family, the other Shipmates, her life and mine.

I think the reason this day stands out in my mind beyond the memorable reason we were in Jax, was that was the day that D-U told me that I am her very best friend. [Tear]

I still tear up thinking about that.

Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :

Twenty years ago, driving back from a wedding in Norfolk to dinner with friends in Cambridge, on a spring afternoon/ early evening, and listening to Test Match Special with Angus Fraser going through the West Indian batting order like a knife throuh butter.

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :

I'm also sitting in Ariel's historic garden, with a good book to accompany the cream tea.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Albertus:
Twenty years ago, driving back from a wedding in Norfolk to dinner with friends in Cambridge, on a spring afternoon/ early evening, and listening to Test Match Special with Angus Fraser going through the West Indian batting order like a knife throuh butter.

I was contemplating Devon Malcolm's "You guys are history" spell. Ah, bliss.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

If we're talking about perfect sporting moments, that Saturday at the 2012 Olympics when Britain won all those gold track and field medals has to be up there - I'm going all fuzzy round the edges just thinking about it.

And Andy Murray's Wimbledon win.

Posted by ExclamationMark (# 14715) on :

A walk through the snow covered countryside in the late afternoon ending as darkness fall and the stars twinkle.

Returning to our 300 year old candlelit cottage in Creamtealand with a wood fire burning (sweet scented apple or pear wood) and a mug of tea.

Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :

I sang at two carol concerts last Sunday. It involved putting on a floor length frock and walking boots, stomping the 2 miles down to the local stately home, going into the wonderful chapel and singing carols and a little lullaby solo with the sun illuminating the lovely stained glass above us, mince pie and sherry in the library with the choral members and audience and then a stomp back home in the dark with the stars utterly beautiful above me.

Cattyish, many lovely days.

Posted by Captain1 (# 16153) on :

Porridge has absolutely nailed it!!

Posted by sharkshooter (# 1589) on :

The perfect afternoon would include a nice single malt, a hot tub and sex. Pretty much in any combination/order.

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :

Cricket seems to be a theme here!

Personally one of my ideas of a great afternoon would be a nice summer's day, chance to get in and have a decent bat, maybe biff a couple of sixes (this is important - when I hit a six it's not because I'm trying hard, it's because everything just flows, it's Zen), decent tea with egg sandwiches, nice cakes, and a cuppa strong enough to stand a spoon in. Follow that up with a bit of breeze to bowl into, nice long spell taking wickets cheaply, win the game (dramatic finish would be good), then post-mortem over a few real ales with the decent blokes who make up my club team.

Bliss!

AG

Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :

Sitting outside a city-centre cafe in the sun (but not too hot) with a mug of hot chocolate (or Earl Grey Tea if somewhere that does it properly) and a slice of the local cake speciality, watching the world go by.

Posted by HCH (# 14313) on :

I think Joanna and I have similar notions.

Another one I like is myself, walking alone in picturesque country with lunch and camera.

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

Sitting listening to King's, wrapping the last presents and realising the children have grown beyond bickering, fixed the fairy lights and even laid the table for tomorrow.

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by JoannaP:
Sitting outside a city-centre cafe in the sun (but not too hot) with a mug of hot chocolate (or Earl Grey Tea if somewhere that does it properly) and a slice of the local cake speciality, watching the world go by.

Watching the world go by ... my bf and I had several perfect afternoons earlier this autumn, on a city break to Rome, sitting at a table outside a favourite cafe in the Piazza Navona with a bottle of red wine, watching the street entertainers and the people going by.

Posted by spork (# 18260) on :

I now realise that the perfect afternoon is watching rubbish TV and waiting for Pointless* to start with my dearly departed Dad [Votive]

*British daily quiz show

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