The Girls Night In...

...Was excellent! It's been a year since we were all together and it felt (as always) that we'd only seen each other last week. The cast of characters: Me, Lisa (Turquoise), Katy (The Millpond), Claire H (mine host), Caroline and Suzanne. Claire H kindly lent us her house for the evening and even volunteered to cook.

It was lovely seeing everyone again, considering we used to see each other on a weekly basis until we got all grown up and spread ourselves across the country getting married and having babies. I know that our friendship is real because it never seems strained when we have our 'reunion'. Sorry, bit sappy I know.

So, in a very civilised, grown-up fashion, we started with drinks and antipasti on the terrace. All very glamorous until Lisa decided that we needed a group shot and the only item of garden furniture high enough to position the camera on was a bird table, full of bird..., well, poo. Things kind of slid downhill rapidly after that.

So, first course was a lovely salad, followed by palate cleansing home-made lemon sorbet, chicken with a leek sauce and vegetables (very nice), a selection of puddings, tiramisu and jelly and cream (with a serious amount of wine to accompany the courses), cheese, coffee, liquors, possibly more wine and .... my memory fails me there. I have to admit that I cannot do justice to the food, it was wonderful. Claire said that it was her first dinner party but I bet she had practised 'a la master chef style' many times it was just yummy!

After dinner entertainment (and during actually, see pictures of Claire singing and Caroline chair dancing) was Madonna karaoke, needless to say I just gave encouragement.

So, after all of us saying that as we were so old and tired we would all be in bed just after 10pm, we finally called it a night gone midnight. It was a lovely night. I believe that we may have agreed that it's my turn to host it next year. We did discuss getting together before Christmas but considering how difficult it was to arrange this date, I don't think we will.

Anyway, lots of love to all my girly friends. See you in 2009! xx

Perfect

We have had a lovely lazy weekend (yes, i'm aware it's not quite over yet). I'm in the perfect mood. I'm sitting here typing away on our new laptop (MacBook Pro) which I love and we've gone wireless, so I am also watching the athletics from the Olympics (and feeling like I should really get off my large bum and do some exercise).

We had a yummy coffee and cake at The Old Maltings yesterday before going to the little hidden bookstore at the back of the market square and buying up most of the 50% discounted stock. I love books, I have a serious habit, I've read 29 books so far this year! We bought a new lamp for the living room and just generally strolled where our fancy took us. Michael's sister came round for dinner (chicken fajitas) and several vodka and cokes and stayed the night. Our first guest.

Today we had a nice lie-in. We took Sarah to the DIY store to choose the paint for her new house (she gets the keys tomorrow but it needs painting and carpeting first) and I bought some more picture frames. We are working on covering the downstairs loo walls with lots of pictures of family, sounds odd but it's looking good but we need more of Michael and Sarah, there's a couple of me and Steve as children which are quite funny.

So, next weekend is the girls get together which i'm looking forward to. It's been a while (a year I guess) since we were all last together. On the Sunday is Michael's parents anniversary BBQ and then Bank Holiday Monday, excellent.

I've booked us a long weekend in Cornwall in September once the kids are back at school (not ours, just kids in general). We are staying at Penhale to try out our lovely new tent and on the itinerary is The Eden Project, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, and possibly a visit to Padstow for lunch (depending on how rich we are feeling).