Food fusion....

It's been a very mixed foody week starting with the silver service meal we had last Saturday being the poshest. Sunday I cooked a traditional English beef roast. Monday hubby cooked us bangers and mash with baked beans (his speciality). Tuesday night was out at the local Beefeater for my favourite rack of ribs smothered in bbq sauce. Wednesday was the huge haddock at the seaside lunchtime then out again in the evening but could only manage a prawn starter. Thursday four of us went out to the totally vegetarian pub and Friday night I cooked a three course dinner for four with the lowest points ever as FriendM is with weight watchers and lots of extras for the men who are not calorie counting. Think it will be leftovers today :-)
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Fresh air and hag stones....

FriendKK and I go back many many years, but over recent years our free times rarely synchronise, however that may change now she has retired from lots of her commitments. So it was a lovely spontaneous surprise when she emailed on Tuesday to say "are you free tomorrow?" and suggested we took some catch-up time together after her early morning swim and before she collects grandchildren from school.

We went to Aldeburgh, a beautiful old Suffolk fishing town. Although we thought we may never get there as we had to follow a very nervous learner driver for miles!  We parked and took a mooch round the shops, KK bought a top in a charity shop and we chatted to a lovely man behind the counter of a 'curio' shop, then a walk along the beach to be near the water's edge. This beach is all stones, all shapes, sizes, colours and textures so you spend the whole walk scanning and studying them and amazed by their beauty. FriendKK picked up a hag stone and popped it in her pocket, no doubt to use for witchy things ;-)

Lunch was in the very popular fish and chip shop, you can't get fresher than all their local catch-of-the-day. I ate all my haddock and batter but left all the chips, KK ate all her chips but had undressed her skate wing and left all the batter.....we were both stuffed.

No time left to even walk off our lunch as we had to head home. Although we thought we may never get there as we had to follow a very large and slow tractor for miles!

In the evening I was out with the usual crowd but I couldn't eat a dinner so just had a small prawn starter and I was even caught with my eyes closing for a minute,  guess it was all that fresh air :-)
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My way (#11)....

Over the years I seem to have developed some very definite ways of doing things and usually it's for a very good reason, so I thought I'd share. 

We went to the hotel with our overnight bag and smart clothes for our dinner with friends. All scrubbed, makeup on, hair done and dressed I opened my jewellery box to discover my special earrings had been packed with an earring back missing!

After a bit of manic searching for something to use instead I sent Hubby to reception to get a bit of blu-tack. Pushed onto the post at the back it held beautifully secure all evening.

What's your way?
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Saturday night and Sunday morning.....

And as with all good things that come to an end my big birthday celebrations came to an end this weekend in a big finale. Six of us friends had arranged a lovely meal in a lovely old Felixstowe hotel, The Orwell Hotel. We chose a Saturday night as they have a pianist entertaining the customers which makes it even more special.

With my birthday cards, as I've said before, BFriendM surprised me and Hubby by booking us a room, fabulous present eh.

About a week before two more friends decided to come for dinner too, then unfortunately two days before one of them was ill, so there were seven of us.

The food was excellent. The pianist was really good and happy to take requests.  We all had a great evening with lots of laughter and moved from the restaurant to the bar and stayed there till long after the bar closed to anyone but residents...hey two of us were residents so our friends became our guests. 

When they all left we just went up to bed, what luxury :-)

The bed was really comfortable and we both slept well. The hotel did an excellent breakfast too.

Before heading home we took a walk along the prom and a quick tour of the Sunday market, then it was home to cook a roast dinner for Daughter, M and the children.

A perfect weekend. 

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Friday in London....

The day for Hubby's birthday present to me.
Set off late morning.
Rain on the windscreen.
Brother-in-law not home so no first cuppa.
Good parking spot right near the station.
Oyster cards (one old one new) at the ready.
Newbury Park to Stratford.
Lived at Mile End up to 40 years ago, this time just passing through.
Quick look round Westfield shopping centre, just to say I have.
Hubby tried on a couple of jackets but didn't buy.
Latte a bit bitter for me but a fruit scone and cream to die for.
Underground again Stratford to Tottenham Court Road.
Asian looking girl with very round face and tiny rosebud lips.
Walked to Covent Garden just started raining again.
Hubby in short sleeved shirt, me in yellow raincoat.
Daft street entertainer, putting clothes on, couldn't see why, we walked on.
Stopped for a beer in the Punch and Judy cellar, I had sparkling water.
An operatic female voice as we left the pub.
A man in a silver 'tin man' suit posing for photographs with children.
A good walk round the market stalls but bought nothing.
Hanging over the railings to watch two violins and a cello.
Old lady with a little red basket collecting for the musicians, proud grandmother perhaps.
Passed a bakery with loaves in the window mostly around £2ish but two were priced at£4.75 each.
Stopped for another beer, more fizzy water was just too much liquid, must find myself an alternative drink.
Slow stroll and window shopping down to Porters for dinner.
Restaurant chosen and paid for online as theatre package so no on-the-day deliberations.
Steak and ale pie for him and fisherman's pie for me and both yummy.
Syrup sponge and custard just perfect.
Lots of people opposite outside taking photos this way, us eating or beautiful building?
Checked when we left, but building nothing special so it must have been just the bright red awnings that were photogenic.
St Martin's theatre, The Mousetrap, 60 years old (like me).
Intimate theatre, red velvet drapes, unfussy wood panelling.
Dress circle, good view.
Well acted but no character actually won me over.
Some titters but no real laughter moments.
Don't understand all the hype, it was good but not wow.
Thank you Hubby for sitting through my sort of entertainment.
We must never reveal who done it.
Chilly but dry when we came out.
Leicester Square tube change at Holborn.
Two tourist children fighting, mother looking stressed, long day for them too I guess.
Holborn to Mile End standing, planned strategy.
Mile End to Newbury Park seated, strategy worked.
Car just were we left it, always a pleasing sight.
Uneventful drive home.
In the house and into bed :-)
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First thing to go....

I smoked my last cigarette ever last night!
The consultant last Friday said it had to go and reading up on renal cancer it is a serious contributory factor and if I have to live with just one kidney in future it would be more than stupid to add to the risk of that one having problems.

I'm sure it will feel very odd not to have them in my life as I started while still as primary school....what a horrid thing to admit to eh? I was 9. We could buy 3d (that's 3 pennies old money) singles from the corner shop and would share just the one between about four of us only maybe once or twice a week, so no big addiction as money was tight.

I can remember when we used to smoke in the cinema and melting a plastic false nail from flicking in the dark, smell of burning plastic is not a good way to impress a first date. My first office job at 16 had the rule of no smoking before 4pm because of all the very valuable documents on desks, it became the thickest fog at one minute past four! I felt very grown up and sophisticated when I smoked the French Gauloises. And felt quite sick when all we could get hold of in Israel was the local brand Knesset which was no doubt made of cow dung yuk. There was the youth club play where I was the aristocratic devil and puffed my way through an enormous Churchill cigar on stage. It was just part of our world.

I've given up on and off over the years and probably got through a packet a day at some points too. Hubby was a smoker when we met and our supplies were often shared with his dad who called himself a "social" smoker because he never bought any just smoked other people's hahaha. Hubby gave up after a rough two weeks of flu some time before we had the children I think. The main conscious decision to stop was when the children were old enough to start school and we were definitely tight on funds so it was get a part time job or save money in other ways...not buying cigarettes meant I didn't have to work for another two years.

Over the last 20 years I've smoked again but never in front of Hubby or any children or most of my family and rarely got through more than a packet a week. Hubby hated it so much that I never lit up when I was with him so mostly none at all during the day since I retired and I never even had them in my bag on our holidays.

So no big deal to give them up eh? Although I really did enjoy the ones I had they have to remain as part of my history now. Last Friday when I decided, there were 8 left in the packet (I'm too tight to throw them away lol) and last night was the last one!
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Private or public?....

I know I'm often seen as an outgoing party person who is always part of a crowd, but I'm actually quite a private person when it comes to personal stuff, not because I'm embarrassed but, I think, because I doubt people will be interested. So if someone asks me about anything I'm happy to tell them, or if someone is telling me of a problem they have which I have had experience of then I will share all I know, but mostly I keep health issues and emotions to myself. Guess that's why my diaries have been important.

However, I'm going to share this here mainly because this is now my diary and as immediate family and friends already know, hopefully it won't offend anyone to learn my news by reading it here first and maybe, just maybe if anyone else is in the same situation we can compare notes!

Yesterday I was told I have a large tumour taking up most of the space in my right kidney and the whole kidney will be removed. The consultant said there is a 90% chance it's cancer. On the plus side it is totally contained and everywhere else is clear (lungs etc all checked) so the kidney will be removed by keyhole surgery within the next 30 days and there will be no need for any further treatment like chemo thank goodness.

Amazingly I'd had no symptoms at all !!!
It was pure chance that this was found now as I'd gone to my doctor with a really painful knee (which I've mentioned here before). Anyway knee seems to be cartilage wear and tear and I'm working with a physio for that, however, my doctor took the opportunity to send me for all my annual blood tests and to send me for an ultrasound to recheck on a tiny fatty tissue lump discovered on my kidney more than seven years ago - even that was discovered by chance while looking for something else. The ultrasound showed the original lump hadn't changed at all, but the radiologist said she could see a little something else but couldn't see what clearly, "although it's probably nothing I will send this report to your GP who will probably request a CT Scan just to make sure."

Sure enough soon after my GP rang to say she was requesting the CT Scan so I gave her my holiday dates. I'd told her we were back on Saturday 24th and when we got home the appointment was on the mat with our post for Tuesday 27th (Monday was a bank holiday). On Thursday a girl rang to say she needed to make me an appointment with the Urology Consultant and as luck would have it there'd been a cancellation for the next day. She offered me a choice of two times. Afterwards I said to Hubby "that's odd, either they had two cancellations or she needed me to come in quickly without worrying". He told me to stop over thinking everything lol.

Well what came next is up in the third paragraph. Immediately after that I had to get a GP at my surgery to change some of my regular meds and now its just a wait for a date to go in. I have to say I'm really emotionally calm about it all, well for now anyway!
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Welcome home...

Wednesday and our wonderful Daughter had offered to make us a dinner to come home to, but after travelling I'm usually more tired than hungry, so I said not to bother but just requested some fresh milk in the fridge. When we got home we were first greeted with this on the front door...

Inside all the banisters had been decorated with ribbons, hair bands and lots of strings of beads (this is actually a long standing tradition here). On the table was a note saying how Daughter and all four children had picked all the plums, because of course they had ripened while we were away. There were two huge bowls and a bucket full of plums on the worktop together with a yummy plum crumble which the note said was made by R for us.

Also on the table was a wrapped birthday gift from my Daughter and Son. I couldn't wait to unwrap it and found this fantastic puzzle jug (I have a real passion for jugs)...

Isn't it amazing?

And there was post, including lots more birthday cards, so I unpacked the cards that travelled with us and put them on display...

There was as requested the fresh milk, so cups of tea with crumble and custard made the perfect end to our day.

Of course Thursday I was hoping to unpack and get all the washing done, but we woke to a very wet morning and it rained all day. So I unpacked and did just one machine load to put upstairs on the clothes horse then Daughter and children arrived :-)

We handed out their little souvenirs and had lunch then we got on with removing the stones from a big pan full of plums and made a huge batch of jam (didn't have any bottled pectin so it stayed very runny but tastes good).

Friday was a lovely sunny day so we managed three machine loads of washing, but still not through it all (why did we take so much?). While Hubby shook the tree and got another big bucket of plums down I also had a mad moment and defrosted the freezer, I'd meant to do it before the holiday but had ran out of time. By lunchtime I was exhausted but then had to rush off to a physio appointment, struggled to find something suitable to wear of course as all my shorts were on the washing line! I wasn't fit for much when I got home.

Today M and O came over on the bus for lunch and our Son came over this afternoon too which was really lovely. And now I'm sitting here with the sounds of an enormous firework display coming in through double glazing so that's how loud it is, but unfortunately I can't see any, so I'm guessing it's coming from the docks where there is a maritime festival on this weekend,  glad they've a dry night for it.
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Lake Garda holiday, 10th-21st Aug 2013 PHOTOS.....

Birthday proper........

11th August was the day I was born and 60 years on I'm celebrating in Italy.

Before we left our room Hubby told me that his present is a show in London of my choice on the 6th September and he also handed me a special present from Son&fiancée which is a beautiful Pandora bracelet.  Then we knocked next door for S&K and SisterS handed me the bag she had bought yesterday, that was sneaky eh making sure I really liked something before she bought it, I really didn't have a clue at the time hahaha. We then came down for our first breakfast in the Hotel Giardino Verdi and were very pleased at the full continental buffet on offer and eggs (scrambled, fried or boiled) fresh to order.

We ate our fill then I opened the huge pile of birthday cards that we had collected and packed. The gifts I'd previously received were left at home to open when we get back. It seemed that as my birthday was a Sunday then lots of people had thought to post early yaay :). FriendM had included her gift in her card too which was a lovely surprise and Friend-t41 surprised us all when a shiny cascade of birthday confetti fell from her card around the table and floor (I caught most of them so they can scatter in my case lol).

As we had a full leisure day we found the bus to Varone to see the famous Waterfall. It was a stunning sight as none of the waterfall shows on the outside you have to walk up through beautiful gardens then into a cave and the torrent of water is coming down inside and although the path is a fair distance away everyone gets soaked.

I was so careful on all the wet paths as I was wearing crocs and they're really slippery when wet but I was fine....then as we walked towards the bus stop I tripped down an unseen step and bent all the toes of my left foot ouch ouch ouch...of course as you may know I'm already suffering with knee pain on my right, so my walking for anyone watching must have had a very unusual gait :-)

When we got back to our hotel I rested my foot wrapped in a cold flannel for a short while then we were off again for a walk around Riva and just had to stop for the men to have beers and us girls to enjoy gelata mmmmm Italian ice cream is my favourite.

After dinner at the hotel, we met our rep at the lake for an evening excursion by boat to Limone. When the two reps started wishing me a happy birthday another guy came over to say it was his birthday too and in fact it was his 60th too!!! On board we were all given a glass (plastic cup) of Prosecco and the reps then got everyone singing happy birthday to the two of us, very funny. The evening in Limone was brilliant, the whole place was alive with entertainment.

A really lovely busy day with aches, pains and bruises to prove it :o)