A L-o-n-g Day

I was up early to get everything out of the way for the cleaners to do their stuff. As usual, I walked up to The Exchange while they were in the house. I had a cooked breakfast there, as I knew there probably wouldn’t be an opportunity to eat lunch later. Once home, I threw some overnight things into a suitcase and set off in the car for the frosty Chilterns, the M25 truly excelling itself with a 45-minute delay and vehicles crawling along at 5mph to reduce from four lanes down to just one. Oh how I love a traffic jam <smiles ironically>

Two and a half hours later I checked in at the Two Brewers in Chipperfield, which I’d booked very cheaply with a new year’s offer. I had a rest for a couple of hours, finishing off my Tiptree book club novel at last which had one of those endings that ties up all the loose threads so you know what happens to everyone. Still not sure if I like that sort of ending or not.

Then it was time to go over to Mell’s in Chesham for our postponed Christmas/NewYear/15th anniversary book club celebration dinner with the two Sarahs, Lucy and Michelle. Mell made a special “Lasagne of Love” (link to Nigella’s recipe below) which was wonderful, and the rest of us had brought contributions for nibbles, dips, desserts and a tasty cheeseboard with crackers. We dined like queens and had a great time catching up, exchanging belated presents, toasting each other - oh, and discussing for about 5 minutes the novella we read two months ago. One of the Sarahs, who has two cats herself, befriended Mell’s cat Layla who is the subject of my blip. Apparently Layla isn’t normally that bothered with people, but Sarah managed to cuddle her which is practically unheard of.

Once back at Chipperfield I fell into bed at about half past midnight, shattered. What a very long day!

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/lasagne-of-love