Cabbage casserole and new hair

I went to Xavier's this evening for dinner. I thought I should try and heal the little rift between us since the other day at the markets. He cooked us a fine steak dinner (here I am showing my appreciation) and I filled him in on all my news.

Well, I had another appointment with my hair specialist, Norma Jean. As we were finishing up I told her how pleased I was with the result and that I hoped my new lady friend, Ernestine, would like it. Norma Jean got a hazy look in her eyes and said 'she will like it very much'. Something in the way she said it gave me pause and I must have looked curious because she became a little flustered then said vaguely 'Oh I have this gift you see'. So it turns out Norma Jean is something of a spiritualist. After much pressing she agreed to do a reading for me.

She went to her sideboard (the appointments take place at her home and though she isn't affiliated with any of the big name hair replacement centres I still have full confidence in her abilities), and took out a large and unlikely tome, The Constance Spry Cookery Book.

She lit a squat little beeswax candle (such a wonderful smell, real beeswax) and settled herself with this volume before her. Eyes downcast she flicked through the pages, humming a low tune, then suddenly her index finger stopped, poised over a page and plunged down. 'Here' she proclaimed and her eyes rose slowly to meet mine.

'Chou Farci Lorraine' she whispered. A sort of cabbage casserole with chipolata sausages apparently.

'This is a very good omen for your new affair of the heart. The plain and wholesome cabbage tenderly succours the sausage. A sprinkling of fresh parsley over the top gives the freshness of Spring and a blessing on new love.' This pronouncement left me blushing, but pleased, and I was happily preparing to be on my way when she grabbed my hand.

'But wait' said she, 'the cabbage should be tender and succulent' she murmured 'A warning then. Be wary, all may not be as it appears. I sense a dark presence. Be vigilant lest the cabbage be over cooked.'

So I really had to talk it over with Xavier and he agrees , the dark presence could only be Unbeing. But that blagard seems far away just now and tomorrow I have another rendezvous with my little cabbage, my Ernestine. Xavier and I are back in each other's good books. So, in short, I am in love, I am eating well, I have a new crop of curling locks and I have made it up with my good friend, life is good.