Girlie Lunch...

Today we had arranged a girlie lunch with Lilian who has just returned from a holiday to Poland with her sister and brother in law.

Another glorious day so we travelled down and picked up Mum and then picked up Lilian and we went off to Porto Antico where we were having our lunch.  It is one of the few places that is still open and one of the few places that is open on a Monday.

We had hoped to sit outside - this is often a struggle with Mum so to avoid any argument I had packed the car up with cushions, a crocheted blanket and a filled hot water bottle.  The cushions she used, the blanket and the hot water bottle she refused so that will show you how warm it was.  

Each year we try and get a photograph of the three of us together and each year we are taken aback by how much she has shrunk over the intervening period.   

What a beautiful day and our lunch was fabulous.  We have to thank Lilian who suddenly declared that she was settling the bill.  We hadn't expected that at all.  As we sat the restaurant began to fill up.  It isn't the cheapest but the location, quality of food and warmth of service make it very much a lovely place to go and one where to like to go for a special occasion.

My sister had a prawn dish which was so pretty and she said it was delicious.  Mum ordered from the children's menu and plumped for fish cakes and chips I had her salad with my duck ragout tagliatelle and Lilian had the calamari - I do admit to a bit of calamari envy but I do think that fish and particularly fish in batter aggravates my hernia.

We took Lilian home and called in and had a cup of tea with her.  She is such a lovely lady and such a wonderful friend to Mum.  I had told her categorically that there were to be no Christmas gifts this year so she just brought us a present each from Poland instead!!!!

We then dropped Mum back making sure she was ok - she had certainly eaten a good lunch so we had no worries about whether or not she was going to have something else to eat but she said she was going to have cheese and biscuits later with the medication she has to take with food.

All in all a very successful lunch and John got to have some peace and quiet from a house full of females.  He is incredibly patient and never complains bless him!

Kaye fancied going to the hotel for a cocktail so we wandered down and sat outside for the first drink but moved inside for the second one.  The hotel is looking lovely with its Christmas decorations.  It was lovely when the log fire was lit and we were settled into the sofas.