Going with Flo

'Well, my dear, I usually go into town on Fridays. Do a bit of shopping, catch up on a few chores, you know the sort of thing. Will you join me or will it be too boring for a young thing like yourself?'

I look across the breakfast table at Flo, my husband's elderly aunt, and the grin on her carefully made up face tells me I am being teased. We are staying overnight while David is interviewed for an important job so if I don't accept Flo's invitation I will be spending the day on my own.

'A trip into town sounds fine' I say. 'Shall I drive?'

Flo says she prefers to do the driving. At 71 she is still full of spirit and adventure and refuses to let the advancing years get in her way. Her only concession to old age, it seems to me, is to allow her once-chestnut hair to turn white.

As the garage door rises, Flo asks 'What do you think of my new car?' I raise my eyebrows in surprise at the gleaming metallic red VW Beetle convertible that is standing before me and I can only say 'wow!'

'I chose the colour because it matches my favourite nail varnish.' Flo's tinkling laugh acknowledges the absurdity of her statement but I notice that she is actually wearing the nail varnish and it matches her lipstick perfectly.

The trip into town takes thirty minutes by car but I think Flo must be in a hurry for we arrive at the Bell Hotel car-park in exactly twenty-two minutes. I am surprised we have arrived at all as Flo has an alarming tendency to overtake unexpectedly, catching me and the other road-users by surprise. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is an act of daring on Flo's part as every hair-raising manoeuvre is accompanied by one of her tinkling giggles. Flo behind a steering wheel reminds me of a mischievous eight year old!

We make for the busy Friday streets and begin shopping but our progress is slow as we are frequently stopping to say 'hello, how are you?' Flo knows a lot of people it seems but that doesn't surprise me.

'Hello gorgeous!' We are buying fruit from a market stall when the voice comes from no-where. We turn to see who has spoken. Standing before us, with a huge grin on his face, is a silver haired man dressed in smart country tweeds and with a yellow rose in his buttonhole.

'George! I might have guessed.' Flo laughs again and kisses the man on his cheek. Clearly they are friends.

'George. Let me introduce you to my nephew's wife, Sarah. They are staying with me for a day or two.' I shake George's hand as he declares it is a delight to meet me. Turning to Flo he asks 'Does this mean no ¦?' There is disappointment in his voice.

'Not today, George' Flo interrupts him. 'Not today.' We move on leaving George in our wake.

The door bell jangles as we enter the bookshop. I browse the shelves while Flo waits at the cash desk for attention.

'Ah, Flo! How are you? Such a lovely day¦' the man behind the desk is also cut short.

'Hello James. Yes, lovely day. Thought ¦' Flo's voice drops so that I can't quite hear what she is telling James but I notice he looks in my direction while nodding seriously. A few more words are exchanged then Flo makes for the door, her business concluded.

'Next week, then' she says, smiling and winking at the bookseller. I follow her into the sunshine.

'I'll pass the word' I hear James call but Flo is already out of earshot.

Somewhere close by a mobile phone is ringing but it isn't mine, even though I check just in case. It's Flo's! Flo has a mobile. I am surprised that I am surprised.

'Hello?' she answers. 'Philip. Yes, that's right. Can't be helped. Next week.' She ends the call with two quick kisses into the telephone and I grin. Flo is such a flirt.

In the car I ask Flo what she would be doing now, if I weren't here. I suspect my presence has caused a change of plan for Flo and her friends and I feel a little guilty. She hesitates for a moment and then grins.

'I would be playing cards' she says brightly. Bridge, I suppose.

'We play poker.' Why am I surprised?

'With George, and James ¦?' I suggest.

'Yes, and Philip and one or two others' she adds. 'Every Friday, unless something else crops up.' Like me. I've cropped up today. But I'm curious and I ask if she enjoys playing, if she's a good player.

'I am and I do. But I don't play to win' she has a wide grin on her face. 'I don't need to.' Flo is laughing at my confused expression.

'My dear girl! I am the prize!' She laughs her cheeky laugh once more as she begins to overtake recklessly yet again by pulling the car into the oncoming traffic. 'The winner gets to go with with Flo!'