Today, we invited Jo, Janet, Carol and recently widowed Chris around to ours for Lunch.
We were hoping that the glorious weather this past week would continue, and we could eat outside – maybe for the final opportunity this year! 🙄. The country has experienced five consecutive days of 30-degree temperatures in the week just gone, where, according to the Met Office, that’s another new weather-related record! It’s all very unusual for SEPTEMBER and whether it’s ‘man-made’ or not, it’s been very humid too, making it so uncomfortable, especially when trying to sleep.
Checking the latest forecast, it looks like we’re in for another super-hot one! Never satisfied us, if it were a tad cooler, that would be better! 🥵🥵 – especially in the kitchen! Our only respite is that it looks like some rain from 3pm. Somewhat ironic then, that we’re off to Greece in a few weeks, in search of some Sun!!!! 🤔
In spite of the rising temperature in the kitchen (even with the fan ON) Ann pulled out all the stops and we ‘went French’ – and with Ann on cooking duties and me on wreckage control, the dream team was once again assembled! 😋
Working on the principle that the weather forecast MIGHT be accurate, we timed things so that we’d be finished eating by the time the rain came at 3pm.
We stayed inside for the nibbles (just to keep cool)!. Jo and Janet had helpfully brought the whizzy Dyson fan with them, making the Lounge the best place to be! (Well, certainly the coolest!) 👍
Then it was into the Garden for Mains…
Yes, that all went down a treat – even in the blistering heat! Luckily, we also moved the fan OUTSIDE and although it helped a little, it was SO humid!
Just before 2pm, we tucked into Dessert (again French inspired) and it was then that we noticed that the sky was beginning to change from glorious blue to ominous grey! 😯.
We ignored it, as it was still so warm, but just fifteen minutes later – and 45 minutes ahead of the forecast with us just finishing Pud – we felt a few spots of rain. We were in two minds whether to ignore it, but a good job we didn’t!
In less than five minutes, the conditions changed from ‘damp’ to ‘torrential’ (and that’s no exaggeration). It rained so hard that together with gusts of wind that came out of nowhere, it blew the picture off the wall in the kitchen – that’s never happened before! We scampered indoors at lightning speed and were soon watching the storm conditions unfold! Phew! Our timing paid off – we’d chatted, we’d eaten, we’d drunk, eaten some more and still didn’t get wet! Brilliant! 👍👍
The appalling conditions continued for another half-an-hour and then in typical UK fashion – out came the Sun! 😎☀️. In that time, we’d put the world to rights until just after 3.30, when our friends said their goodbyes and headed home.
We’d all had a great time. It was an imaginative menu and there was lots to do to pull it off. The sizzling and humid conditions made the preparation more challenging, but at least we beat the rain when we actually sat down to enjoy it all with our friends 👍😎
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!
I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!
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