Please make it over

Walking back from Shona’s I encountered this wee hedgehog ambling across the road. Well sitting by the side contemplating crossing.

We had a walk in the grounds of Howick Hall then went out the one way system gate to walk down to the sea. Once out and round the corner we met a quagmire with nowhere to go but through it, so I was up to the ankles in mud.

The beach was a real mess of stuff thrown up in the recent storms. We had a bright sunny walk along the cliffs to the Bathing House then back up the road to the car.

I managed to finish my blurb book of the train and Venice so got the offer.

Then I made a complicated Nigella pudding involving panettone, pistachios (it took ages to shell them), chocolate drops, eggs, masses of mascarpone, cream, Marsala, Cointreau and pomegranate seeds. It’s my turn to host the veggie food group lunch so I volunteered to do the pudding. Susie insists on having a theme and this one is the C word. It’s a bit random as we don’t know what anyone else will bring so it could be a load of the same. It’s very big so I’m going to take the the leftovers to Chris who is having us and Carol and Phil to supper tomorrow.

I had a craving for black pudding (I know I don’t eat meat - I tell myself it’s only blood) so I’m making linguine with sliced buttered parsnips, red onions, tomatoes, pinenuts and the black pudding. It’s very tasty

#2 daughter sent a photo of James who got a trophy for being man of the match at football. Also Thomas said James had done a fantastic tackle at rugby. It’s good he enjoys his sport and can succeed in that.