Sunday 21st August 2011

Its funny isn't it? We spend the whole working week looking forward to the weekend, when we can laze around all day, lay in bed 'till midday and generally slob things around the clock.
And yet once again this morning I found myself awake at five this morning, answering the pleas of Molly for breakfast; so I fed the rest of the clan too. Or those that were present. I tried to go back to sleep, but the pale light of dawn attracted my eyes; so I got up, went downstairs, made a pot of coffee and watched last night's Match of the Day, and took up position on the sofa.

The sun climbed into the sky, and clouds came along and covered it. We did some work in the garden, and then went off in the car to visit Walmer Castle to look at the plants and flowers they have there.

It is a tiresome journey of nearly ten minutes to the gate of the castle, and then an arduous drive of 200 yards to the car park and a trek of some two minutes to the entrance where we flash our membership cards to gain entry.

Phew.



So we head to the ornamental pond to see if there were any dragonflies to snap; there were a few, but just damselflies, and too small and quick to have a chance to snap in flight. We walk round the gardens, to the kitchen garden to see the produce all looking ripe and delicious. The most amazing thing was the artichoke in bloom, looking very much like a huge thistle, because that is just what it is, apparently. The insects did not care as they loved the blooms and the bees were leaving just covered in pollen.

We head to the cafe for a drink and end up having cream teas. A cream tea is tea (no kidding) and a scone. Simple? No, not simple, because each scone is accompanied by a small dish with a pat of butter, another with strawberry jam and another with clotted cream.

The begins the ceremony of cutting the scone, applying the butter; ice cold to make this as difficult as possible; spreading the jam and finally, the cream. Stir the tea in the pot, put milk in the cup, and pour the tea.

And now munch, munch, slurp, munch, munch, slurp, slurp, aahhh.

Back into the gardens for another look round, but the crowds had now arrived and so we head back home.
In the afternoon I cook two small racks of lamb, sautéed potatoes with fresh raspberry jus, fresh corn and fried onions. As good as it sounds my friends.

and then the football.

Norwich draw 1-1, failing to win thanks to an equaliser in the 94th minute; Man City win 2-3 at Bolton, and that is that.

we have just made a litre of tomato purée with the excess garden produce, and after a hectic weekend we are going to relax for the evening.

Maybe.