Aylesbury, England

[Carruthers]

Thanks for that account, Cherry. Cellar writing at its best.

I also enjoyed our chat very much and the relaxed atmosphere that went with it. Thanks for your company.

Coffee v Tea. I am a dedicated tea man, but the trouble is, and I think many people will identify with this, is that no-one else can ever make a cup of tea just the way you like it, hence my electing to try a Latte or two.
I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality of the coffee you recommended. I might just change my allegiance…

By the way, I am flattered that you think I am easy to talk to.
The semblance of a blush has risen, unbidden, to my manly cheek.

All the best,

Carruthers

[Sundae]

Sorry about the poor typing above, I was being slack and using my iPad, and I'm never quite as accurate as I am on a "proper" keyboard.
And I'm plenty inaccurate even on one.

So, off home to start putting dinner together.
Self deprecatory comments (aka whinging) in a later post.

Cooking the main made the house smell delish. Even Dads commented on it. I got us a pizza, because I wanted something I could bang in the oven and not have to worry about washing up (one oven tray). Colour him unimpressed. He had a measly token slice then claimed to be full. Still, we gorged on the leftovers as the courses came back.
Wait - getting ahead of myself.

I bought candle bags a while back because I saw them in Poundland I think.
I had a vague idea of giving a pack to my bro to bump up his Christmas present, or using them at Halloween or maybe when "the girls" came round. I achieved the last anyway. Weighed them down with powdered mortar. No idea why Dads had it, but I knew it was a given it would not be used by him again. Worked well.

Two views of the front path.
All the girls appreciated it and commented on it.
So they flipping well should - I set them out when it was barely twilight, 15 minutes before they were due to arrive. It was full dark bty the time they were all here. 18.00-18.30 means 19.05 apparently. Still, it was technically a one-pot meal, so nothing was spoiled. I'm just a punctuality-Nazi.

Note For Sale sign in garden

[Sundae]

Table set ready for action.
Detail. Yes, the chap on the camel was from eBay for 99p.

[Sundae]

I posted before about looking up ways to fold paper napkins.
The instructions on how to fold one into a rose sent me fruitloop - I swear there was at least one stage missing. So I went with a classic fold that I already knew how to do with linen napkins, although I admit I did brush up on it online.

The main course made me disappoint.
I did sort of cobble it together, in that I had all the ingredients I could possibly need, but I was not following a set recipe and hadn't practised it, lamb being as expensive as it is.
So although it was very much Moroccan Lamb in flavour, it was quite wet, like some curries, as opposed to the drier, more tagine feel I'd hoped for.
Still, it went down very, very well and was complimented most highly. Mum and Dad are finishing off the leftovers as I type and as soon as they are finished I will go downstairs and finish it off myself.

I pat myself on the back for the flavour, because of course I taste as I go along, it was just the consistency I was dubious about.

Me in my uniform.
At this point I am wearing my hijab incorrectly.
I corrected it.
It's oddly liberating having all your hair covered up.
I do prefer to have the choice though.

[Sundae]

I also had a CD of Moroccan Lounge Groove (?!) playing.
All instrumental.
And some Frankincense & Myrrh incense burning. Although you get what you pay for with that - I didn't want an overwhelming scent, but it wasn't exactly what I'd hoped for.
Still. Better than buying the really good stuff and having to put it out.

Starters
Bread with dipping oils
Chips & dips (and by chips I mean crisps - no, really, flavoured crisps - brought by a guest)
Home made falafel

Main
Moroccan lamb
Cous cous
Potatoes
Green Beans

Dessert
Blueberries in Cassis inside Meringue Nests with Crème Fraiche
Cheese & Biscuits (brought by another guest, who took home the remaining cheese, including the very nice Cornish Quartz I'd added to the board because it looked pretty sparse)
Baklava & Turkish Delight, Coffee

I present The Girls

[Sundae]

I travelled down the country on Friday, to be with Dads on his 75th birthday.
Family things being what they are, we are having two separate celebrations. It's not so much about the whole my-sister-has-disowned-me blahblahblah, and more about the fact Mum offered a choice about which of the two weekend days everyone was free. The Wrights wanted Saturday, Ste wanted Sunday, so guess who I sided with?

Yup. Going to have Italian with the 'rents and my bro today. Looking as Sophia Loren as a fat middle aged woman with wild lilac hair can manage.

Dads loved the boot-sale cat. He doesn't know where it came from (Mum does but she loves it too).
They've called it Queenie.
The inflatable crown was from me. He wore it out for the meal yesterday and it was a hit.

Mad old Dad. I feel like Cordelia.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Mad old Dad. I feel like Cordelia.

King Dad!!

There's a movie title for ya.

[Sundae]

The buses were so confusing. I gave up and went on the train. More than I intended to pay, but so much quicker and easy to work out.

I will confess from the outset that I wore the wrong shoes.
This is so unlike me...
But I believed the church we were meeting at (because it was having an open day, and I like ecclesiastical architecture) was right on the High Street. Nope, it was along a gravelled path. Note to self, next time you meet Carruthers, wear flat shoes and rely on conversation to impress him, not in platform wedges and height.

Cornflowers and clematis.

[Sundae]

Poor Carr. He's such a gentle man.
He's not responding to my calls this morning. This may be because I ended up going barefoot and making him carry my shoes.

Nature in all its glory.

[Sundae]

Church photos now.
Lots and lots.

It was really rather marvellous I have to say. And Carr is such a genial host; I swear he knew every twinkly eyed lady there...!

[Sundae]

I know, I know.
I can't help it. They call out to me.

Main display and detail.

[Sundae]

Stern stony looks from lady who does not approve of my footwear.

[Sundae]

Flowers, God and railways.
Always a winning combo.

I'm not mocking - the whole outing was delightful.

[Sundae]

We went on the tombola. I think it was seven tickets for a pound?
Why can't I remember? Because Carruthers paid
I don't mean that in a materialistic money-grubbing way, it was a kind gesture.

And of the seven tickets we got four prizes!!! (or maybe three - I was too excited after the first!)
One was even a bottle of wine.
I gave it to my Mum, unopened, undrunk, as soon as I got back here. Just so you know. Even though I went home via the pub and had loads of fags and booze and steak and kidney puddings. Not. Although I did pick up a discounted roast chicken at Morisson's so Mum didn't have to cook.

And we had tea n cakies too. Mine was a mini cream scone, the unhealthiest thing I've eaten in weeks. Flipping lovely. But that might have been the fellowship. Sitting under canvas in the watery sunshine, barefoot and blethering on.

[Sundae]

Just realised I had a hotdog too!
What a fat pig.
Me and the sausage I mean.

Ketchup and mustard.
In a white dress?! This girl knows no fear.
Except fear of collapsing on a weak ankle. Remember how I said Carruthers squired me? He very politely allowed me to take his arm back down the uneven gravel path, so there were no spills and spillages on the way back.

What a lovely day. Shame it's bucketing down now!