We met Marie and Michel last Sunday at an organ concert and invited them eat with us on Wednesday. Just a simple lunch - paté, fish and chips, cheese and Black Forest gateau to finish.

We had barely finished the starter when the phone rang. It was Yvette. She was in tears and obviously feeling ill. Naturally I dropped everything to go to her. Bear handed me the car keys but as I'd had a couple of drinks (a campari apero and a glass of Chablis) and the traffic lights at the roadworks keep you waiting for four minutes (we've timed it) I prefered to go on foot.

The door was open and Yvette was in her armchair, very distressed. I phoned her doctor and waited with her.

Meanwhile, 'back at the ranch' Bear had taken over the cooking and serving while Whale  undertook the converation as our friends do not speak English.

I did my best to comfort Yvette, holding her hand and trying to be reassuring until the doctor arrived. It seemed she had had a very bad reaction to the anti-inflammatory tablets prescribed for her painful knee. Thank goodness there was no question of being sent to hospital as she had feared. She agreed to go back to bed and try to sleep for a few hours so I tucked her up with an icepack on her knee.

The meal was over and Bear had just poured Michel a large brandy. Marie had gone to the post office to stretch her legs. Whale was back in bed. Everything seemed to have gone well.

But: Bear hadn't been able to find the peas in the top of the hostess trolley, he had not opened the red wine with the cheese, and he had given poor Michel a huge quantity of cooking brandy (which he couldn't finish and I don't blame him). Of course, he had left all the clearing up for me and I later discovered that the coffee he had made must have been far too strong for our guests.

All the same, Marie said everything had gone well. They were impressed with Bear's cooking and Whale's conversation and they were very pleased that I had been able to go and help Yvette. They weren't at all put out that I had 'deserted' them as they would have done the same for a friend in need.

Yvette is feeling a bit better today but she still needs to take it easy. I'm popping in to see her this afternoon.

Bear is feeling worn out after yesterday's exertion. He's still in bed.