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OK DON’T PANIC The ansill come to e is all about It’s about love, obviously And companionship, and mutual support And… soup?
My eye rests on a huge antique silver tureen, coift I can just see it: Suze and Tarquin sitting by the fire, ladling soup into each other’s bowls It’ll be all lovely and do, and every time they drink soup they’ll think of me
Perhaps I could even have it engraved “Today with love and affection from Becky” And a little poem, maybe
Mind you, engraving is quite expensive I’d better check how much it would all come to
“Excuseto Arthur Graham, who is the owner of Graham’s Antiques This shop has to be one of e It’s small and intimate like so you ht want Like that fantastic carved chair, and a hand-painted velvet throw, and that arandfather clock over in the corner…
“The tureen?” Arthur comes over, dapper in his jacket and tie “This is very special Eighteenth-century silver Exquisite craftsmanship You see this detail on the rim?”
“Beautiful!” I look obediently
“And it’s priced at…” He consults a little book “Four thousand dollars”
“Oh, right” My smile falters, and I carefully put the ladle back “Thanks I’ll… keep looking”
So e isn’t about soup Maybe it’s about… chess? I run h a garess But I’m not sure Suze kno to play chess
A clock? No
A… an antique barometer?
Oh God, I’ at straws here I can’t believe it’s Suze’s wedding in two days and I still haven’t got her and Tarquin a present Or at least, not one I can actually give theeous picnic hane cooler, really cool knives and forks, and even a rug It took es to choose all the stuff, and I was so pleased with it But Suze phoned last night to check what tiiven her a fantastic present — a picnic hamper filled with Conran tableware!