It is a secret skill that has featured in many films, stories and comic books, reading the mind of others. It is by far the funniest and I think would be the coolest secret skill. I was at an event this weekend, quietly sat minding my own business when I was approached by a male. He arrived at my table, put his drink next to mine and started to talk to me. Not averse to conversation with strangers, I politely talk to him. He drinking beer and possibly on the way to being a bit worse for wear. If I had had thise secret power to read his mind, how different the day would have been!!
So we talked and given the fact that I cannot read his mind, we discuss the racing and the betting. This lack of the secret power means I also cannot read the minds of the riders or the horses to ascertain, who is on top form, how they are feeling, is the mindset on for winning. So instead like everyone else in the glass fronted balcony room I wonder to watch the horses in the parade ring, look at the colours of their shirts and try and imagine which horse looks like they are ready to win a race. This is possibly not the most professional betting way of deciding. However since for me the races are all about tea, sunshine, atmosphere and seeing these amazing animals and talented teams who train and ride and care for these beautiful elegant and talented creatures.
So mind reading skills out, I continue with my pre race wonder to the parade ground viewing, admire the horses and try and choose one or two to place a two pound bet on. It is such fun and since it is not about the financial rewards, I really get excited trying to choose for myself. However my gate crashing guy, starts telling me, how he has studies the field, knows the ground and bets regularly and at higher amounts. I remain unimpressed, as this is not my reason for going to races. If Icould have read his mind in the first instance, perhaps I would have managed to avoid what happened next. This secret power may have saved me much frustration.
He proceeded to tell me that my winning ticket was wrong, seemingly as he was betting person I assumed he was correct, tearing the ticket. each time I choose a horse he asks me and laughs and derrides my choices. I try and tell myself it is the alcohol, but it is irritating and not enjoyable. I maintain my manners as much as possible, wondering if I could read his mind, why on earth he was trying to gatecrash my day! Then he starts touching my arm eeewwwww…. I pull away, touching is not fun, when person is both a stranger and perhaps having had quite alot to drink. So the aftenoon passes, my most imagined skill of mind reading still does not materialise, but perhaps reading behaviour and intent begins to sharpen. Eventually he invites over a huge group younger people, I return from the parade ring to find a young woman and a crowd of younger men, stood at my table, the uninvited gent stood in the midst smiling and laughing. I am not.
I instead talk quietly tto the gents sat at the next table, we talk about the day, how much fun we have had with the racing. One of the young men from the group also talks to me, I ask if he and his friends have had a nice day ? Glad that mind reading is not possible, as I am thinking that when people look younger I am clearly getting older, as the groups around look very young to me! So the racing finishes. My ripped up winning ticket the momento. The guy gatecrashing after the racing is over, I chide him that he has ruined my races day, gatecrashing my table, which he respondes with a laugh. Then offers me dinner with his winnings by way of an apology. I agree, mind reading at this point might have been more helpful as the early evening unfolds.
So Idrive., mond reading not required to ascertain that this man is not fit to do so. We find an independant Italian restaurant. its exposed beams, cause him to tell me they are original. I point out that the cross beams are not original. The Raviola starter as a main course is delicious with a salade mixta that is deliciously dressed. He orders wine, the waitress ignores me entirely in the ordering, so I interject with my request for San Pellegrino ice and lemon. Long drive and ay alcohol not a great look. He tels me about his family and shows me pictures of grandchildren. It is a lovely to talk and the ravioli is delicious, a hint of garlic and crab, I glance at the gents plate and wonder if they could have fitted anymore mushrooms on the plate and wondering if I could read his mind, why he ordered extra mushrooms and left half of them ?
The waitress asks him if we want deserts and I interject with a request for chocloate fondant, he glances at me and says he doesnt eat deserts, I glance at the bottle of chardonnay and I am glad he does not have the super power, me thinking that dessert and the mushrooms fest with an entire bottle of chardonnay is likely to bring on nausea. This apology meal with vomit would be more of a disaster than my crashed races day !! The chcolate fondant oozes perfectly, this apology meal is delicious!! Then as I take a tentaive bite of the fondant, the words leave his lips that make me realise that mind reading really would have been the most useful super power. ‘ You wanna come back to my air bnb apartment ?’ I balk, hopefully visibly. ‘Absolutely not, you gatecrashed my races day, take me for an apology meal and expect sex ?’ he replies ‘We could get to know each other?’ Mind reading clearly all out I think I know enough about him already !!! Drunk, with unrealistic expectations and I truly wonder if the chocolate fondant really is enough to make up for the day ? I love fondant, I love chocolate …. He manages to hold the door open and walks me to my car. On the long drive back I wonder what it would be like if we could read each others minds. Then the very next day the question pops up on my blog …. !!