I Thee Wed.

Greetings from the seaside. The air is salty, the gulls are screeching and the sun is trying hard to come out.

I'm in Kent to witness by friend Beth getting married. I've known her since she was 15 and at times we've been really close.

Her journey has not been without pitfalls but after many false dawns, impediment that is part of being human she will be married today. 

I'm actually quite anxious about going. I struggle with social situations, I don't do small talk and find it really hard meeting new people. 

But today is not about me, it's about Beth and Paul. The day I met him was one of the scariest days of my life. Dad nearly died that day. 6 years on though we are all good. 

Sunday lunch with dad tomorrow and then go home. 

I Heard a Voice. 

Praying for Rain.

Not often one sees the Australian Test Cricket Team praying for rain to save the day. But are on the run in the 4th Ashes Test of an epic series. England smashed them all over place yesterday. Today their prayers are answered and no play so far.

You find me on a wet July Saturday indoors with just the radio for company. 

The school year finished yesterday and after the tumultuous last couple of years I'm finally in control. It is incredibly busy but I got a lot done and everyone sees I'm doing well. Even those who have been so negative are praising me.

Sadly I don't get the long school holidays so I'm back in the office on Monday. We have decided to have a team lunch on Tuesday so we're off to The Turkish Kitchen after our meeting. Halal caters for the needs of an inclusive lunch. I for one am really looking forward to it.

So back to today and this weekend I lunched on clams with garlic, white wine and parsley. A Navarin of lamb is on the menu tonight. Roast beef tomorrow. 

Have a great weekend all.

I Heard a Voice  

A Grey July.

During what should be the height of summer with Wimbledon coming to an end it is unseasonably cold. Wet and windy at times too.

My friend Marie has been staying this weekend but the cold and rain have somewhat curtailed our adventures. 

Not the food though. Lunch at The Waggoners, a Khmer pork and pineapple curry were sustaining us yesterday and I'm just about to cook roast rack of lamb. 

Mozart plays and I've been reading. Going to Cambridge last weekend allowed me precious reading time on the train. 

It's been a busy summer of friends and travelling. Kent two weeks ago, Cambridge last week, Marie this week, Beth's wedding in two weeks. Emma will visit in mid August and I travel to the town of my birth to see Annabelle at the end of August. 

With that I'll leave you. Have fun.

I Heard a Voice. 

No Sun at the Seaside.

I've escaped to the seaside! The trains were awful and weather terrible but I made it. Bitterly cold wind, leaden skies and some rain have not put me off though, great to be away.

I lunched on tapas in The Old High Street in Folkestone with Beka and Marie. Marinated anchovies, Padron peppers, meatballs in tomato sauce, garlic prawns, squid and the special of pan fried asparagus wrapped in serrano jamon. Sublime with a couple of beers. 

The sun did actually come out for a while. 

After I bought local honey and organic Dijon mustard. Saw some interesting prints in the Artists' Quarter. Need to buy some pictures for the flat.

Tomorrow I'm cooking rare roast rib of beef with Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, carrots, savoy cabbage and tenderstem broccoli which I will serve with freshly grated horseradish cream, gravy and fine red wine. I'm hosting dad, Beka, Laura and Emma. 

Here until Monday. In a good place mentally, hurrah!

I Heard a Voice.