...... and that was just the nettle sting on my little finger, when I was picking apples yesterday (more of that later). Then there was exquisite pain this morning at the dentist - no, not the treatment, but paying the bill. Well, that's the tooth all properly filled, but the dentist still doesn't think it is going to survive much longer (and that will be an even bigger bill).
Never mind, on to happier things! We had a wonderful meal on Tuesday with Stuart and Alison - if you are on a diet, you might want to quickly scroll past the next few photos! Alison and I chose the same starter - a potato scone, topped with black pudding, bacon and cheese, with a rich gravy
Malcolm had prawns in filo pastry with a sweet chilli dipping sauce
Stuart had potato wedges with two dipping sauces
then it was on to the main course. I decided I would go for a lighter main course, as I thought the starter would be quite filling (it was!), so I had chicken with a lemon sauce and rice
Alison had steak pie
Malcolm had minute steak
and Stuart had Cajun chicken with salad, tortilla chips and salsa ...... but the menu didn't mention it came with chips!
needless to say, after all that we declined a sweet! And of course we had a drink to toast the birthday boy! On Wednesday morning, we headed to Falkirk to have breakfast in Aromas coffee shop, where we used to be a fixture on Saturday mornings ....... we used to go in, say hello to the other regulars, sit at "our" table and start reading the papers. As if by magic, tea and coffee would appear, followed by what were possibly the best bacon rolls in the world - as we always ordered the same thing, the waitress stopped asking what we wanted, and simply brought it. When we arrived on Wednesday, we met Lorna, one of my quilting friends from Greenpark Quilters - I was a member of the group twice, before and after living in Indonesia. I was given blocks made by the members both times that I left - but on the second occasion they said I wouldn't get any if I joined and left a third time! When we went in, it was as if we had never been away - despite the fact that it is seven years since we moved away! Jane, the owner, said hello as if we had just been in last week. Then Joy, another of my quilting friends came in, so I had a blether with her. So, the big question was - would the bacon rolls still be as good - YES
after breakfast, we walked past the house where we lived from 1990 until 1997 (we lived in the downstairs part, upstairs was a separate flat)
the house was on the market recently, and we were able to view photos of it online. Although it had been redecorated, the kitchen was still the one that Malcolm installed, and the bathroom was also the one that we fitted. And walking past, I could see that the beautiful lace panels that I bought all those years ago were still hanging at the bedroom windows
Malcolm made this fence about twenty years ago! It is in need of a coat of paint, but still looks sound. He cut the top of every piece himself - he made it in short panels, perhaps making one each weekend
so, to return to the nettle sting. When we were walking over to the restaurant on Tuesday night, we passed several bramble patches, laden with fruit, so on Wednesday morning, we stopped on our way to breakfast to pick some
when we got home I decided to go for a walk and pick some hedgerow apples, and that's when the nasty nettle stung my little finger - it throbbed for hours! Never mind, it was such a lovely afternoon, I had the glorious scenery to take my mind off the pain (ok, I'm a wimp!)
I tried to persuade this sheepie to move back a bit into the sun, but it stubbornly stayed in the shade!
I'm making bramble and apple jelly - at the moment is is dripping through the jelly bag. Malcolm made a crumble this afternoon - but as it is a fast day, we can't eat it until tomorrow! I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update ....... and hopefully some Friday cake!