There was one occasion, a year or two later, where we did get it together with Pete and Nattie at once, but it certainly wasn't in the same room. We were visiting them for a short holiday (they'd moved down to the New Forest area), and it was a lovely sunny day, so we decided to take a picnic out into the Forest. We packed up lunch, called in at an off-licence for a couple of bottles of wine, and drove off to what they described as "a private picnic spot" that they knew.
On arrival, we left the car in the car park and set off on foot down the forest paths. I found that a walk in the woods with Nattie was a genuinely educational experience - she knows almost everything there is to know about woodland plants, insects, fungi and stuff like that. And she would make a good forest ranger or something, she explains it all so well. As we walked along, she was constantly pointing out things to look at - she's almost as good as one of those David Attenborough wildlife videos, but much sexier and without the more revolting close-ups!
Anyway, after getting a bit off the beaten trails and picking our way between a few bramble bushes, we got to the place that they were aiming for. It was a largish clearing with a small stream running right through it, and was several hundred yards from any of the frequently-used paths, (or so they assured us), and so was reasonably private.
What's more, the stream entered and left the clearing at spots where old trees had fallen across it and then become overgrown, so even if you were following the stream it wasn't that obvious.
We all larked about with the water for a bit - Pete and I decided we really had to practise damming the stream, so that we'd be able to do it properly to entertain kids whenever we had any. Well, you've got to think ahead, haven't you?
Soon all of us were splashing around in the water. That was quite interesting in itself, as neither Trish nor Nattie was wearing anything very substantial, what with the warm weather. A wet tee-shirt competition had nothing on it!
Then the girls opened up the picnic supplies, and we all set about stuffing ourselves with good nosh, and slurping away at the wine.
Of course, warm sun, full bellies and plenty of wine took their toll, and we soon all started to feel sleepy, so we just lay back on the grass and dozed off.
I suppose it must have been about half an hour later that I came to, badly needing a pee; so I slipped off into the woods to find a convenient tree to irrigate. On coming back, I saw that Nattie had woken up too; but our respective spouses were still dead to the wide.
"Are you still sleepy, or d'you fancy a stroll?" she whispered to me. "There's a spot near here where a bunch of New Forest ponies sometimes come to graze, if you'd like to see them."
I always liked animals, so I agreed readily. "Just wait while I have a quick wee, too." She moved behind a tree to relieve herself, but carried on talking to me in a stage whisper. "Bring your camera when we go," she said, "you might get some lovely snaps". So we set off, leaving Trish and Pete still snoring drunkenly.
Nattie led me along some paths for perhaps half a mile or so, and soon came to the pony place. It was another clearing, with a pathway out to the moors, and offering a bit of shade to the ponies. Sure enough, there were a dozen or so of the cute little beasts there.
Most of them were nervous of us, of course, but one little chap came right up to me and started nosing my pocket where I'd put an apple for afters - he obviously had a good sense of smell.
Oh, well, I wasn't that worried about the apple - I decided to give it to him, and he allowed himself to be petted for a minute or two while we bargained over it. I handed it over, and took a couple of close-up photos of the little critter while he munched his booty.
Nattie started to pet and stroke him a bit too, then leant some weight against him - he seemed a bit nervy for a moment, then just stood there as she gradually put more weight on him while we both petted him. Eventually, she said "I think he'll let me ride him - I'm going to try! Keep your camera ready!"
