Had a fab weekend with Fi & Rich in Hove, kicking off with a very smoky dinner at the new restaurant Embers in Brighton. Smoked meats, smoked & smoking cocktails – and a smoked aubergine side dish that won the night.
Thence a busy Saturday – mad prep for our afternoon/eve at Glyndebourne. The walking of dogs. The finding of folding chairs. A nip to Waitrose. Salad making. Meringue baking. Reggie van packing. Getting into glad rags.
Met James & Dominic there – what a great foursome to spend the day with. Terrible weather though – massive contrast to last year's glorious sunshine – but Glyndebourne is well prepared for such things, as was Fi, having booked us a nice big table under cover. The fizz was popped and Dominic carved the two baked gammons – great effort – and we scoffed away.
Then it was time – eek – to try out some opera again. Last year's show, Alcina, was pretty obscure and with a non-existent (to me) story, so this year we thought we'd have a crack at A Midsummer Night's Dream. Much better scenery (inc human trees and bushes, moving about), an understandable tale, some kids playing the fairies including a very good young Puck, but…. the thrall of that music still entirely eludes me. It has its moments but, in all honesty, just not enough of them!
Having given it two cracks of the whip, opera is clearly just not my thing. So – a great couple of days away with fab people, but next time – hold the screeching and warbling for people who (somehow) find it a joy!
x