Hello dear #SoCSlers ;-), how are you? I hope you can enjoy a relaxed Saturday and if you, like me, had or have to work, that it is as busy or quiet a shift as you prefer 🙂 .

I started this post yesterday but couldn’t finish it and am a little in a hurry because I soon need to cook dinner. Let’s see what I can manage in about 3/4 of an hour 😉

This week’s prompt from Linda’s SoCS is beautiful 🙂

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “hope.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!“

Please find out what SoCS is and what our fellow bloggers make of this prompt here at The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS July 10, 2021

Mallory Travels The World III ( Please find all posts here)

Last week Bianca told Mallory about a trip to Barbados she did in her youth. And now they are off to Grenada:

“I am so glad you could change your flight!” Mallory gave Bianca a hug just after they closed the door of their Cocoa Pod. She looked into a pristine white open plan room with a little seating area to the left. Straight out was a little balcony and to their left stairs up to the sleeping room and en suite. “Well, your ex-travel-agent cleverness did help a little” Bianca hugged her back. She felt like a little bird in Mallory’s arms. “Who decided to call a hotel room “Cocoa Pod”?” Bianca went on. “It’s a boutique hotel and lots of cocoa is produced on Grenada”. Mallory answered and then went on: “Are you sure, it’s ok for you to come with me on my adventure?” Bianca freed herself and shook the long white braid of her back. “I am sure my friends can manage our knitting circle without me and my brother in Switzerland has enough to do with his family.” She started walking up the stairs grabbing her old-fashioned leather suitcase. “Do you have no children? Or a husband?” Mallory took her yellow ethnic print bag, that she got on St. Lucia after buying herself some clothes and followed Bianca. “No. Never had time for either. To busy exploring the world and teaching!”

Mallory looked at the white covered bed with an artistic wooden back when she arrived upstairs. There was a small en suite opposite the bed and windows on either side. She looked out of one but only saw the other colourful cocoa pods: ” Shame I never came across this hotel when I worked.” she thought. “There were a couple of customers who would have loved this!” Bianca put her suitcase down on the left side of the bed and started unpacking. “Do you want children?” she asked Mallory. Mallory turned around to face her. “No!” she said and then she shoved her bag under the bed. Bianca’s blue eyes told Mallory that she was a slob but she didn’t say anything. “That’s all?” Bianca asked instead. “Yes, that’s all. I’m not made to be a mother. Besides you need a man for that.” “Not necessarily!” Bianca sat down on the bed. Mallory hopped on too and laid down. “The artificial ways are expensive. I’d rather adopt but I don’t want to!” It came out a little more aggressive than she wanted it to sound. “Ok, ok…” Bianca laid down too. “What do you feel like doing here?” Mallory thought for a moment. “Let’s watch that video again and figure out what we both like.”

“If I’d like alcohol we could see another Rum distillery” Mallory giggled when the video had finished. Bianca sighed: “I think I saw enough of those in my youth” Then she grinned and turned towards Mallory: “What about a cocoa factory? I like chocolate but you seem to love it!” “How did you gather that?” Mallory answered just as she took a chocolate bar out of her trousers. She had taken it from the reception. “It needs saving from melting…” she said to Bianca who only shook her head. “Chocolate factory it is then!” they agreed. “But what else?” Mallory asked. “I would love to try out one of those hot springs. Close to where I was born, there were several but not in such a beautiful surrounding. They were only partly outside.” “Where were you born?” Mallory asked while finishing the chocolate bar. She had sat up and now started a new video on her phone. “In the South of Germany!” “Really? I would have rather thought in France. You speak more with a French accent!”. Bianca bend over Mallory’s phone. “My parents were missionaries. They travelled all over Africa and I studied in Paris.” “Cool!”:

Both sat up straight and stretched. “You start to like video’s, don’t you?” Mallory asked Bianca in a teasing tone. “Well,” she answered, “Travel books only can show so much… but where is my favourite?” Mallory groaned. “You geography freak! Haven’t you learned enough about Grenada yet?” “No, I haven’t. And neither have you” Bianca answered. Mallory laughed. “Ok, here is Braby for you”

“Aren’t all these volcanos and hurricanes scary?” asked Mallory while she put her phone away and stood up. She went to the window. It got dark outside and started raining. “They are but no worth worrying about. What’s going to happen will happen. I am too old for worrying and not enjoying my life. Fancy something to eat?” “Yes,” Mallory said, “did that bar with the swings offer food too?” “Let’s find out!”

They found their way to a restaurant terrace with a glorious view of the turquoise Caribbean sea and classic Grenadian music greeted them:

Mallory raised an eyebrow but Bianca just shrugged her shoulders. “Come on, young lady, that’s the Caribbean. What do you expect?” “I hadn’t expected anything, remember? I simply left on a plane and hoped to forget my obnoxious ex!” They sat down at a table close to the bar. “Yes, I remember. Despite her being so obnoxious you mention her now and then.” Mallory sighed. “I’ve never done anything like this before, you know. I was always the dependable one. Left my hopes and dreams behind as soon as someone I like or love needed me. Or made out they needed me.” A waitress came: “Would you like something to drink?” “Yes, please. Pina colada for me please.” said Bianca. “And you?” asked the waitress. “Orange juice and the menu please.” The waitress smiled and left.

And where are Mallory and Bianca going next week?

Where do Mallory and Bianca go on Saturday, July 17th, 2021?

I let them take a rather random route around the world, but sometimes it makes sense. Next week they venture to Marrocco if they can make it 😉 . Please find musicians from Marrocco at this Culture Trip link.

Let’s see how I get them there 😉

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow some same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. So far the campaign has raised about half the amount needed: £451,074 of £800,000 (May 2021).

Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks, my dears, for staying with me until the end.

I appreciate your presence.

Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!