Perfect Pasties

Today we had Kaye, Mum and Lilian here for lunch and I had planned a roast dinner but plumped for Pasties instead because we found a reasonably sized, reasonably priced swede rather than one which was the size of a head and the price of a kidney.  

We started out with a pea and mint soup which was lovely, I had made mum's without chili and ours with.  Then we had the pasties which were, if I do say so myself, the very best I have made ever in the history of my life EVER.  Everyone enjoyed them and even Mum said they were good - almost as good as my Nanny's but Nan was Cornish through and through so I was never going to reach those dizzy heights.

John was ecstatic that there had been enough meat to make a spare which he had already ring-fenced for his lunch tomorrow when Kaye and I are taking Mum out.  Not only ring-fenced but hastily packed away from view as we often offer Mum a meal to take home with her.

Mum has not been up with us for some time as it is not so easy now that she is not driving - it is a 60Km round trip down and then again back and when we take her back she is always keen for us to stay for a 'cuppa'.  We despatched John off this morning to get Lilian and mum, Kaye and I were taking them back.

Mum has been so much better since her infusion - it just makes you realise what a detrimental effect low sodium has on her.  The doctor has told her that unfortunately it is a sign of her aging and so the regular blood tests and top up infusions are going to be with her for the remainder of her days.  It is a small price to pay for staying alive.  She looked lovely today too.  Kaye and I are trying to reinforce the items in her wardrobe that do her justice as there are quite a few items we would gladly bin!

Kaye had brought a game for us to play after our lunch.  We all had a mask to wear and were allowed to ask one question to which the others could answer only yes or no.

Looking around the table it was obvious that there was a 'theme' of royalty going on so this picture is Mum as what is now the new Queen.  Lilian was Prince William. Kaye was Prince Charles, I was Princess Anne and poor John was a Corgi - he didn't stand a chance!!!!!

So a bit of a laugh and it whiled away half an hour or so.  Our biggest laugh was the sight of Mum sampling the lovely chocolates that her hairdresser had given her for her birthday and which came from Lidl.  Mum couldn't duck having one because they were a selection of Dark, Milk and White chocolate but the face she pulled when I handed her a Dark Chocolate with Salted Caramel centre was priceless, Kaye said she couldn't have pulled a more disgusted face than if she was on one of those eating challenges on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and she had been presented with a Kangaroo's do-dah!!!!  Still you won't change her.

As I said Kaye and I took Lilian and Mum back and we managed to duck the obligatory cuppa because we were stuffed from the pasties and it was getting a bit late.  Mum forgets we have another 30-40 minute drive back home plus Kaye and I wanted to check out a restaurant for Tuesday night when we will be having a family meal together somewhere down near Emba.

Someone had recommended Vardas Seacret (spelt like that) so we went to check it out.  There has always been a cafe/restaurant at Vardas Beach but this looks to have been given a right old facelift.  The menu looked ok and there were loads of staff so we decided to go for it.  I shall report back after we have been.