Hi, do you have to rush off? A few of us are going for coffee, would you like to join us? We walk towards our favoured branch of a UK coffee chain.
Once orders are taken, we find a table big enough to accommodate us, given that your joining us makes five.
The conversation as usual begins with chat and tittle-tattle about our children and school. We'd be interested in hearing your experiences about being the parent of a school boy/girl, of what it's like at the school gates and even about how you chose the school your child/ren attends.
We might share stories of the things are children say. Such as The Boy Child, who just this very morning queried my choice of t-shirt and suggested I change it. I didn't.
Talk moves on to the weather and our American friend makes us laugh by referring to her grandsons as looking "British white". We're hopeful of good weather for the Bank Holiday weekend and ask if you have plans. Are you staying at home or will you have a few days away? Our weekend will be a mixture of the two. We chat about where to take the children for a reasonably-priced day-out in London. Kew Gardens and Kensington Palace Gardens are looking like the favourites.
One of the other mums will probably ask how you know me. You and I will look at each other and grin. Trying to describe a friendship formed through blogging and scrapbooking is difficult. You worry that the other person will think you odd, that they won't
get the idea of scrapbooking. But in reality, it turns out the other mums will smile and nod and think it's pretty cool to find a friend that way.
Someone will glance at their watch and we'll realise that ninety minutes have passed in a flash. We'll collect our belongings and clear up the cups and saucers. Some of us will pop off to the supermarket, others to the gym and one will go straight home to start their work-from-home job. Me, I'll go home to walk the dog.
There'll be a flurry of hugs and of see-you-laters. All of us will entreat you to join us again next time you're in town.
This post has been brought to you in association with Abi's invitation to share a cup of tea.