A goodbye meal...

The weather has been changeable but then again it is getting towards the end of November so this morning when Nicky and I walked we were greeted by the most amazing cloud formations overhead.  The sun was rising and clearing off overnight stormy weather - I always say that if you were to recreate this as a painting people would say that you don't get skies like this but you do!

Just our regular little circular walk this morning which was lovely.  The vines are turning colour, this is about as autumnal as it gets here!  Still we are lucky to be able to be out and about in just a t-shirt.  We hope to walk again tomorrow but the forecast is looking poor - thunderstorms are on their way.  

Nicky and Mark have been busy plasterboarding their lounge/dining room ceiling so she went off to do more of the same on our return and I set about getting a curry meal for the evening sorted.  It is Jan and Derek's last night and we had offered ages ago to do them a meal.  We also realised, that as they have now formed a strong friendship with Gail and Pete across the road, they would probably have wanted to spend their last night with them as well so we had invited the four of them round.  My first task was to make onion bhajis - ready to be reheated later on.

We also made plain and garlic naan breads and some Indian Mathri crackers to have with the starter dips which included raita, lemon pickles, mango chutney, tomato salad and carrot salad.  The curry was a chicken nawabi and with that plain rice and some bombay-style potatoes.

God the house was smelling amazing!!!! and we were all prepared and John had lit all the candles and it felt cosy and warm inside!  No disasters save for the fact that the curry was trying to make a bid for freedom from the slow cooker as there was just a little too much put in there.

We are going to miss Jan and Derek being next door but not half as much as Charlie who has forgiven them the dog fostering episode and now mooches around there at every opportunity and particularly if we are out as he loves the company.  

Fingers crossed that Derek makes the flight ok with his bad back - he still seemed to be uncomfortable and was absolutely shattered as they have been trying to get as much done as possible before going back to the UK.

Jan arrived with loads of stuff from the fridge and things which we had lent them.  We are taking them to the airport tomorrow morning leaving at 11.00am so that doesn't leave an awful lot of time tomorrow for them to sort things and really they need a good night's sleep and a lazy start to the day so that they are not knackered.

It was a nice evening - the food went down well and a big thank-you to Gail for bringing a pud because I don't make puds often - it isn't my forte! plus the pud she brought was bloody lovely, a sort of red velvet type confection which was amazing and she didn't even try and pass it off as her own - I would have done!!