1. When I come downstairs, my dad is sat on the seat in the bay window, stroking a cat behind the curtain. I’m surprised to learn it is Tilda – the cat I thought would hide for the duration of their visit. (Kaufman on the other hand, Mr Confident Friendly Chap usually, has made himself largely scarce, though does exchange meows with my dad a little later.)
2. We go up the road to the Industrial Museum – I think my mum will like the period houses (and she does). My dad is even more delighted that in the printing section, there is a copy of an old newspaper (and its corresponding typeset layout) from 1981 when Aston Villa were the top of Division one, and a headline proclaims “Villa Champs”.
2b. There is a dog waiting in the museum’s foyer as we enter and she is still there as we’re ready to leave the main building so I go over to say hello. She has the silkiest head and puts her paws into my hands as I tickle her: I fall in love. I’m sad to leave her and she wants to come with us – I have to tell her, and sign to her, to sit and stay. She does so beautifully.
3. On the top, the cheese has just started to turn golden brown but underneath it’s perfectly goopy.
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