Lunch with very dear friends...

As I said before, the weather forecast is looking poor for next week - I wonder if it has something to do with the full moon which is scheduled for tonight/early hours of tomorrow morning - and is called the Cold Moon or Beaver Moon apparently.  Anyway whatever it is called it seems to be heralding a week of bad weather.

For the last few evenings we have had the gas fire lit and John is looking forward to 1st December which is generally the first lighting of the woodburner (whether we need it or not!).  Mr Boo is more than happy with the gas fire so will be like a little piggy in shit when he is able to take full advantage of the proper fire.

So all that aside it was with some relief that we woke this morning to clear blue skies and some lovely sunshine.  We have visitors today, Costas and Jackie from Tea for Two and they were swinging by and picking up Mum en route.

I was rather glad that I had done most of the preparation yesterday as there was no real sense of urgency to get up and get started - just as well as John had slunk into bed gone midnight after a rather abject performance by the now not-so-Mighty Blades who are probably doomed to relegation with only 1 point so far this season.  

I do like to entertain and have people sitting around the dining table - it is a great opportunity to get out my kitchen stuff and use it and I think there is nothing nicer than cooking and people enjoying what you have cooked.  I knew that this wouldn't be a problem for Costas as he has a fabulous appetite!!!  It was also fabulous to see Jackie looking so well after all that she has been through.  We realised today that it has been more than four years since they were last at our home.

So here we are about to tuck in to what I think was a good meal - everyone seemed to enjoy it and Costas managed to eat two portions!

My pudding was a triumph - it was served with a portion of the orange and cinnamon ice-cream the lovely lady from the Gelateria in Prodromi gave me the other day and some cream.  It must have been ok because Costas asked me if I would like to make it for Tea for Two!!!  I said no, I have no wish to - I keep thinking of poor Jackie who has been making the Lemon Meringue for 30 years!!!

A great day all round and I think Mum enjoyed having extra people to chat to and they got her home safe and sound and Jackie plans to meet her for coffee which is brilliant.