Sunday 10th January 2023

Day seven of the heatwave, and possibly the last, but also the hottest.

It was even hot at half six when we got up, the sun already up and shining through the Saharan dust that hung in the air.

After the adventures of Saturday, all I had planned today was staying inside where it was cool. And I had chores too.

Shaun and Ang were coming for lunch, and I was to bake the Italian lemon tart and a focaccia to go with the Caprese were were going to prepare.

There was no way I was going to cook a roast on a day this damn hot.

We had coffee, then breakfast of fruit before Jools went swimming and I started on the tart, making the lemon custard and mixing the pastry once the custard had cooled down.

Ten line the line with the rolled out pastry, pour in the custard, add the decorative flourishes, and pop it in the oven for half an hour.

And after washing up, I started on the focaccia. Mixed up the dough, left to rise, then line an oiled tray, add onions, garlic and cheese, then leave half an hour to rise again before baking that.

All done, so that Jools went to collect our friends, while I stayed here to prepare the Caprese, so that when they all arrived, we could chat, drink and then eat.

We all had seconds of the tart, so it all went, and after clearing away and washing up, it was six in the evening and the weekend had nearly slipped though our grubby fingers once again.