Lizzie's List Read Free

wondrous places, I do feel I have (so far) led a quiet and safe life. I am certainly not ashamed of this, but the impending arrival of my 30th birthday, has made me want to do a few things that I would not usually contemplate. Kate, being far more adventurous and outgoing than I, feels no need to join me in compiling a list and finds the whole thing rather amusing, but I think she is secretly proud of me.
    On arriving back at The Tea Cosy, I notice Ruth, my neighbour, one of the few people who would also be up at this early hour in the morning. Ruth is a quirky lady in her 50s, who makes no apologies for her eccentric dress sense and personality to match. For this, she has my admiration. After her husband died unexpectedly twelve years ago, she moved to our village before training as a landscape gardener. When her only son (Russ) moved to the city, she took the risk of leaving her job to start her own gardening business and has never looked back since. Despite the gap in our ages, I see Ruth as a wise friend, whose company I often seek, especially on cold winter nights when the cafe is less hectic. We often share a bottle of wine and put the world to rights – or so we think!
    As I approach Ruth, who’s still in her Cath Kidston dressing gown, she glances up from the daily watering of her colourful flower-filled pots that surround her front door. “Are you okay Lizzie – you seem a little flushed and isn’t this rather early for you to be up and about?” asks Ruth as I walk towards her quickly.
    “No Ruth I am not alright, may I come in for a cup of tea?” I reply somewhat sternly.
    “Of course,” answers Ruth looking a little alarmed at the unaccustomed force in my voice.
    I watch Ruth in her kitchen making my tea and glancing curiously at me when she thinks I’m not looking. Ruth’s kitchen is as quirky as her dress sense, with lots of clutter and nothing matching, but this makes it even more appealing. The effect of this has a designer look, whereas when I have tried this approach in my kitchen, it just looks untidy. Ruth hands over my strong tea – just the way I like it. Why does a cup of tea always make me feel more relaxed?
    After I explain to Ruth about my embarrassing actions in the woods, my tension evaporates and slowly I start to see the funny side of the event. Ruth’s laughter is infectious and I can’t help but giggle at my predicament with her once I hear her booming laugh.
    “I don’t know why you’re worried. If I had a figure like yours, I’d be quite happy to strip off and be seen by everybody. I wouldn’t be hiding that body behind a tree!” Ruth replies.
    “Ruth you seriously don’t mean that. What gets to me more is that he had the most annoying look of triumph in his face as he walked off. What’s more irritating is that he knows my name. I have no idea how he knows me or who he is.”
    “Lizzie it probably brightened his day more than the sunshine itself. What young man will take offense from a pretty, naked lady hiding behind a tree? Of course, he may have questions about why you were hiding naked behind a tree, but I’m sure he enjoyed every moment of it. And I certainly don’t understand this modern obsession with bodily hair trimming – don’t young people know about insulation and warmth? I still can’t work out why a girl like you is still single and not snapped up by some handsome, cake-loving farmer. You’re just like my Russ; he’s always single and so handsome that I wonder why.”
    “He’s only 25 Ruth – maybe he’s enjoying himself too much,” I answer.
    “True. Anyway, tell me what else is on this list of yours,” Ruth demands, still laughing at my expense as she pours out another cup of builders’ strength tea.
    Feeling much better after speaking to Ruth, as I always do, I spend the next thirty minutes discussing the other tasks on my list with her. We decide that after the shock I had with my number one, I should select a more sedate item from my