Shopping

One of the first times Karena came to see me was on a trip to visit the garden centres near me, now for people who don't know, Karena does not have a very big garden and she just wanted a few plants for her two little trays in the front, so I thought this would be easy to complete.  Firstly as there were no sat Navs in those days I drew her a very explicit map on how to get to me and she said she would be with me by 12 and would I be ready. So I sat and waited and waited and Karena phoned to say she was on her way but had to stay behind to write an email.  (I did learn over the years to give or take an hour when she said she would arrive !!)  Half an hour later she phoned to say that she had found a different route but was in Tottenham (nowhere near me) and could I help her!!!!!  Eventually arriving 1 hour late we set off.  You would think buying 10 geraniums and a few trailing plants would be easy but not with Karena, big decisions had to be made.  Should she have 10 the same colour or should they be mixed, or should they be small or large and should the trailing plants be white or pink, after about an hour she decided we had better eat so put them all back and would decide later !!!  Eventually they got bought and I learnt that I had to keep the whole day free another time.  I also learnt that when shopping with Karena I must not say that I liked something as it would always end up in her trolley as she was forever generous.

Fun holidays with Karena 

1 The wonderful time she gave Tony and I when she took us to Penang for my 60th birthday
2 The lovely time we had In Bruges
3 Making me eat snails in Brussels 
4 Making me try the Duran fruit in Malaysia at her mum's 90th birthday

Finally I did get one over on Karena when Tony and I turned up at her parents house in Malaysia for Leo's first birthday as a surprise, having previously arranged with her sister  Zuli, and for once Karena was speechless !!!!