the paperwork. If it had been any one else I’d have exercised caution and waited for the signed and sealed contract, but it’s Cam’s friend and I’m on a reckless spree.
The hardest part was ringing Gran to tell her what I’m doing. I’d expected a lecture from her, especially at the rate we were moving along with the whole thing, but she surprised me.
“Declan, I’m going to miss you, why you had to decide to move to the opposite side of the country I don’t know, but if this feels right for you, then you have my support.” It’s only when I hear her say this that I realise how far away I’m going to be from her. At least when I was in Afghanistan I knew I was coming back to be with her, now I’m moving across country.
“You’ll have to come see the place when I’ve done it up, Gran.” I invite her. We both know she’s too old and stubborn to leave her farm, so I’ll have to make sure I make regular trips back home.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re the young one here, you can come see me.” She laughs. “Besides, your boys are all here so you can visit us all at the same time.” My Gran always has a logical reason, and she always seems to win any discussion with her logic. I’m going to miss her.
“Cam’s staying on an extra couple of weeks to give me a hand, and I think Luke might come and give me his advice on the re-fit.” It’s only been just over a week, but I miss the guys already.
“Good, good. Get Luke to come see me before he comes and I’ll send you some proper food.” She laughs. Gran doesn’t think anywhere serves proper food outside of her kitchen.
“Well, now you mention it I don’t suppose you fancy sharing some of your recipes with me do you?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Pffft and piddle young man as you well know. You’ll get my recipes when I’m dead and gone, until then you just have to come visit if you’re missing my cooking.” She laughs.
“It was worth a try.”
Cam walks into the room, indicating that there’s a call for me on his phone. I say my goodbyes to my Gran and take the phone from him.
“Hey, Declan. I’ve booked a flight for the morning, bringing you some brochures and stuff on the type of fittings I think you’ll need and I’ll help you interview the contractors.” Luke offers.
“Thanks for this, I know you’re busy with your own projects.” I’m grateful to have his input on the project, if nothing else I know he’ll save me money, as he won’t let me employ the wrong guys or purchase the wrong fixtures and fittings.
“It’s no problem. I’ve been worried about you, we all have. Besides, I can’t wait to see this project of yours that’s got you moving so far away from us.” He laughs.
Everyone keeps reminding me how far away I’m moving from what I’ve known, perhaps it’s because of the lack of permanent residence in the Army, but I don’t see it as a problem, more as a challenge to embrace. It’s not like there isn’t an airport close by after all. I can go home and visit when I want. I’m still in the same country at least.
I end the call with Luke and go back to flicking through the websites on bar interiors. I don’t want to employ a designer, it’s only a small pub and I’m pretty sure between Luke and I that we can come up with something suitable for the locals and my own tastes.
Chapter Twenty
Declan
Luke’s visit was short and sharp, but we got a lot accomplished. The crew we hired have almost finished, the place is certainly transformed. I’ve kept as much of the character as I could, and added in a few modern touches to make life easier like a dishwasher for the glasses behind the bar and a new kitchen that’s more suitable for catering than the small set up that Jim had.
I’ve retained a couple of the staff that Jim had, but he told me he still hadn’t replaced the barmaid who’d been killed and he thinks that I’ll need more bodies, if only to handle the curiosity of the locals
The hardest part was ringing Gran to tell her what I’m doing. I’d expected a lecture from her, especially at the rate we were moving along with the whole thing, but she surprised me.
“Declan, I’m going to miss you, why you had to decide to move to the opposite side of the country I don’t know, but if this feels right for you, then you have my support.” It’s only when I hear her say this that I realise how far away I’m going to be from her. At least when I was in Afghanistan I knew I was coming back to be with her, now I’m moving across country.
“You’ll have to come see the place when I’ve done it up, Gran.” I invite her. We both know she’s too old and stubborn to leave her farm, so I’ll have to make sure I make regular trips back home.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re the young one here, you can come see me.” She laughs. “Besides, your boys are all here so you can visit us all at the same time.” My Gran always has a logical reason, and she always seems to win any discussion with her logic. I’m going to miss her.
“Cam’s staying on an extra couple of weeks to give me a hand, and I think Luke might come and give me his advice on the re-fit.” It’s only been just over a week, but I miss the guys already.
“Good, good. Get Luke to come see me before he comes and I’ll send you some proper food.” She laughs. Gran doesn’t think anywhere serves proper food outside of her kitchen.
“Well, now you mention it I don’t suppose you fancy sharing some of your recipes with me do you?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Pffft and piddle young man as you well know. You’ll get my recipes when I’m dead and gone, until then you just have to come visit if you’re missing my cooking.” She laughs.
“It was worth a try.”
Cam walks into the room, indicating that there’s a call for me on his phone. I say my goodbyes to my Gran and take the phone from him.
“Hey, Declan. I’ve booked a flight for the morning, bringing you some brochures and stuff on the type of fittings I think you’ll need and I’ll help you interview the contractors.” Luke offers.
“Thanks for this, I know you’re busy with your own projects.” I’m grateful to have his input on the project, if nothing else I know he’ll save me money, as he won’t let me employ the wrong guys or purchase the wrong fixtures and fittings.
“It’s no problem. I’ve been worried about you, we all have. Besides, I can’t wait to see this project of yours that’s got you moving so far away from us.” He laughs.
Everyone keeps reminding me how far away I’m moving from what I’ve known, perhaps it’s because of the lack of permanent residence in the Army, but I don’t see it as a problem, more as a challenge to embrace. It’s not like there isn’t an airport close by after all. I can go home and visit when I want. I’m still in the same country at least.
I end the call with Luke and go back to flicking through the websites on bar interiors. I don’t want to employ a designer, it’s only a small pub and I’m pretty sure between Luke and I that we can come up with something suitable for the locals and my own tastes.
Chapter Twenty
Declan
Luke’s visit was short and sharp, but we got a lot accomplished. The crew we hired have almost finished, the place is certainly transformed. I’ve kept as much of the character as I could, and added in a few modern touches to make life easier like a dishwasher for the glasses behind the bar and a new kitchen that’s more suitable for catering than the small set up that Jim had.
I’ve retained a couple of the staff that Jim had, but he told me he still hadn’t replaced the barmaid who’d been killed and he thinks that I’ll need more bodies, if only to handle the curiosity of the locals
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