Wow – the past 3 days have just shot by! Dad & Mands arrived, with Mabel, on Thursday lunchtime and we’ve just dropped them back to the station.
Thursday was WET with a vengeance, so – after a trip down to Garson’s farm shop to check out any post-Xmas bargains – that was very much a staying in night. H knocked out a very fine boeuf bourguinon and we tried them on the mezcalitas, which seemed to go down well too!
Friday morning heralded the great excitement of unwrapping and putting up something we were very nervous about – a huge painting for the white space wall, which we had commissioned. Also worrying in case it doesn’t turn out as you are hoping for, but – phew – it was perfect! And the boys managed to wrestle it up onto the wall – where it now makes the room feel warmer and more complete. It only took us 7 years!!
Fri was also luckily nice & dry so we H & Day headed to the David Lloyd to do a hideous cycling class and scoff some lunch, while Mands & I had a wander with the dogs round Ely’s before joining them there. Amazingly, we managed a whole hour of pickleball together, without either Mands falling over or hurting her dodgy hip and without me yanking my dodgy back. Still not sure how I got away with that, given I am still hobbling like a granny every time I get up and start to walk off. Back stuff, dull, dull, dull.
Then went off to Sam’s Riverside for a nice dinner out – big thanks to Henry & Sandra over the road for kindly looking after Mabel, who otherwise would have howled the house down. I had a crab and gruyere soufflé then we all shared some pear soufflé for pud – the first time I have ‘double souffled’ in my life and a very good call it was too.
As it was still nice on Saturday – how lucky? – we all headed into town to have a wander round Maltby Street Market and then Spitalfields, both of which are fine with dogs. Knocked out 14,000 steps which meant it was time to head back, batter the Toblerone into submission with an afternoon cuppa and then have a delicious salmon en croute supper, followed by crumble. Fuuuuullllllll.
Just had time for a quick peruse of some websites as we decided to go to Cornwall for a week in late September. Found a corker of a place but have had to send an enquiry as they only take 1 dog supposedly. Oh go on, do take two!!! The first time ever I have described us and them as ‘two couple in our early sixties’ (eeekkkk!!!!) but I thought it made us sound all the more respectable. Still shuddering…
Now catching up on a bit of admin, blogging etc but man, that sofa is calling very loudly…. Happy Sunday folks x x