Tonight was a double celebration with both Julie’s and Paul’s birthdays coming up in the next week.
Tom took on taxi duties and picked us up around 7.15 and luckily, we were able to travel light, as Karen and I had dropped off a lot of the prepared food earlier in the afternoon.
By 7.30, the ‘usual suspects’ Tom, Julie, Paul, Karen, Dave, Rosi and Trish (no John as he was working away in Germany) and Nick assembled in the kitchen for some pre-dinner nibbles and a chat. The table had already been laid, and by 8.15, we were ready to scoff!
With the girls playing to their strengths – Julie responsible for Starters, Karen on Mains, Ann on Puds and Trish taking charge of the Cheeseboard, we were set for an evening of expanding waistlines!
Karen’s Slow-cooked Lamb & Even-slower Oxtail
Ann’s Fruit Meringue
Ann’s Apple, Pear, Cranberry and Walnut Strudel
Trish’s Cheeseboard
In between catching-up with each others’ news, it didn’t take us long to polish off the menu – and as always, the collaborative efforts towards the menu meant our taste-buds were rewarded… and then some!
And then, in the blink of an eye, it was midnight, and time for us to leave as we had the carpet-fitter arriving tomorrow morning at 6.30am (don’t ask!) to lay the hall, stair and landing carpet. We said our goodbyes and took the cold-and-frosty walk home. We were soon indoors – and pleased about that – as Winter is most definitely coming!
Next Saturday, it’s John and Trish’s turn to host – tonight gave us all a good practice run!!
I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!
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