Another day, another restaurant

Sunday: Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, followed by lunch at Inn the Park courtesy of Simon and Tania

Monday: Dinner at Brasserie Blanc, St. Paul's with an old friend from Audit Commission days.

I know...more evidence of a food obsession!  But today I'm not eating.  Doing the 5:2 diet.  Eating normally for 5 days of the week and dropping down to 500 calories on another two.   Not much downward movement in my weight, but apparently it can be slow to get going...and a lot probably depends on your starting point and what you call 'eating normally'!!!!

Post card from London

Barbican, London. View from our windows

A happy morning at Brockwell Park yesterday with the grandsons.  Saul all smiles and Abe chattering away. Hands too full to take pictures!

Today the sun is shining, the window boxes have been watered, the crossword cracked - time to go shopping!

First stop booking tickets for tonight at the Wigmore Hall, then a light(ish) lunch at Le Truc Vert in North Audley Street before battling with the crowds in John Lewis and home again on the bus.

Le Truc Vert

A busy Picadilly Circus

Walking at Walberswick

A great day at Walberswick, Suffolk with our Cinema Club friends in a house rented for the week by Keith and Nicky.

Keith and Nicky getting the coffee on

Great hosts!   There were 12 of us on the walk and 13 of us for lunch.  After lunch there was table tennis! 10 of us then settled down for the film (3 had to leave early).  We watched 'The Lives of Others' which some people had not seen before.  Those of us who had appreciated the chance the see it again.  It's a beautiful film.

Catching up

Sunday papers

More catching up

More gathering

Gathering for the walk

Queuing for the stile

Coming in sight of the beach huts at Southwold

Resting...

Time for a short breather, taking in the sea air....

Striding across the green at Southwold

Studying the exhibits at the Fishermen's Museum

Chatting in the Fishermen's Museum

Waiting for the ferry at Southwold

Back to Walberswick by ferry! 

Resting after the walk, while lunch is prepared...

And after the film some people went for another walk and then had a snack before bed.  Some people went straight to bed...me among them! 

Change of holiday plans

Apparently there was something wrong with Arley Tower and the Vivat Trust decided to take it off their books, just a few days after we had booked.  

However, we have found an alternative, for which they are giving us a 20% discount for our trouble.  Which makes it even more attractive.   It's in Golden Valley, Herefordshire.  Sounds good!

A place in the sun, we hope...

The upstairs sitting room, there's another one downstairs

The front door

Slow cooked lamb shoulder

Tried a new recipe for lamb last night - we had our neighbours in for supper.  It went down a treat!  In fact it was delicious, even though I say so myself!

Put 8 cloves of garlic (or more), two sprigs of rosemary (bruised), a couple of sprigs of thyme, 4 shallots quarters (or an onion quartered) in the bottom of a casserole that will take a shoulder of lamb.  Add a table spoon of water, lots of salt and pepper and put in the oven uncovered on a medium heat for 30 minutes.

Then add 300ml of white wine and a generous splash of port.  Cover the lamb with a piece of parchment/greaseproof paper which you have wetted under the tap and squeezed out.  Tuck the paper round the lamb to prevent moisture escaping and then put foil over the casserole before putting the lid on.  Turn the oven down to low and leave for at least 3 hours...longer is fine.  Mine was in the oven for about 5.5 hours!

Before you want to serve, remove the lamb to another oven proof dish (careful, it will try and fall apart), cover with foil and return to the oven on its lowest setting to keep warm.  Strain the juices from the casserole into a saucepan taking care to mash the garlic cloves through the sieve.  Add a small wine glass of port and a tablespoon of redcurrant jelly.  Whisk and boil until it has reduced by about a third.   Mix 1 tablespoon cornflour with a little water and whisk into the sauce.  Cook for a further 2 or 3 minutes.  Can be reheated when you are ready to serve.

To serve bring the lamb to the table and pull apart with a fork!

One shoulder of lamb served 4 of us (with 3 people having second helpings and a helping over which I have hidden in the fridge.  I want it!)

Just been to see 'Behind the Candelabra' followed by dinner at Pizza Express (by the red car) with 4 friends.  Very noisy, enjoyable conversation!

A holiday? Are we entitled?

Arley Tower

We've been debating whether College Station was a 'holiday' for us, or whether being back in Norwich is the 'holiday'.  Not being able to reach a decision, we decided to book a holiday...a week near one of our favourite places, the Malvern Hills.  It's a Vivat Trust property, probably the 6th we've stayed in and they are all interesting and comfortable with history attached. 

We've picked Arley Tower.

Sitting room

Bedroom

View from the roof of the River Severn

Modern kitchen