Camp Cooks

Yesterday was a lovely day, I tried to type something last night but it was so difficult to concentrate that I gave up in the end. We got a taxi into town and met at Annie's, I even put my posh dress on and high shoes! I'm a flat boots and trousers kind of girl but every now and then I like to make an effort and dress up. It was all about me yesterday so I had to rise to occasion.

We started with cocktails as we perused the menu...I could quite easily slip into this sort of lifestyle, I think. The food was delicious...I had seared scallops then sea bass on a pea and garlic risotto followed by sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. It was all washed down by lashings of a rather nice red wine. I was given some lovely presents by my lovely friends.

I'm afraid I went overboard on the wine. a gut reaction to the bad week probably, and so I did have to cling onto to one of my lovely friends as we waited for a taxi. It wouldn't have done to have fallen with a splat onto the pavement in my posh frock and heels outside Kendals, would it!!

I fancied a cup of tea when I got home and as I had no milk I thought a walk to the shop would clear my head. How wrong I was. It felt like a trek in the Himalayas, every step was a challenge...and by the time I stumbled home the thought of a cup of tea was not appealing at all.

I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning and decided I was feeling fine so I would swim. I'd left my car at Pat's so I had to walk to the Marriott...this was for the best as I was probably still over the limit. It wasn't quite like the Himalayas today, more of a hike in The Lakes. As for swimming...hah! I got in the pool, walked to the other side, climbed out and sat in the jacuzzi for half an hour. A long drink of strawberry and mango tea revived me in the bar afterwards.

I was feeling almost human by the time I got home so I walked with Jude down to Pat's and retrieved my car. We then went to the Lowry to the Food Festival. Gino D'Acampo was there yesterday, James Martin today and Paul Hollywood tomorrow...they are doing cooking demos. We didn't have tickets for the demos but we wandered round the food stalls and had a few things to eat, so that I fully regained my normality...well as normal as I'm ever going to be.

It was very busy and the whole atmosphere with the tastes and the smells was exciting. The queue for the car park as we were leaving was horrendous, I think Manchester United are playing this afternoon so it was a fight for every space. Thank goodness we went early as I wouldn't have wanted to queue up today.

I'm going to put my feet up now with the paper, then I might walk round to the cricket club as I can hear a game in full swing. I love Sundays...I especially love Sundays that precede a Bank Holiday...lovely!

more pics here