Al Fresco nosh

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 We have a new picnic table. Well, not us personally but we as in the residents of this end of Somme Parade:


I noticed somebody working on Tuesday on my way back from doing the shopping. Whilst ambling on Thursday saw the results of their efforts. It is in the grassed area which is number 357, but there is no house there. We might go and use it one day when we feel like doing something “edgy”.


A notable feature of our week has been “spontaneous rescheduling” of our evening meal arrangements. On Tuesday we hosted Nicky’s Home Group for a shared lunch. She made a lovely tuna and sweetcorn flan with gluten free pastry. As per usual, the range and quantity of food was quite extensive. Even though we encouraged people to take food with them as they headed for home mid-afternoon, we were still left with enough left over bits for dinner on Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Wednesday Steve contacted us to say that he was cutting his kayaking trip short due to his injured ankle, and could we put him up for the night. No problem we said. Due to the injured ankle being the right one, the drive up to Whanganui from the ferry port in Wellington was painful. As a result, he decided to stay Thursday night too, so he took us out for dinner at the Spice Guru. We all enjoyed our choices but Nicky couldn’t manage all of her butter chicken so the surplus came home with us. The meal rescheduling continued into Friday. I got some shop-bought sausage rolls out of the freezer on Wednesday night to thaw ready to cook for the Community Kai at the marae on Thursday. Part way through Thursday I then discovered it had been postponed for a week. The sausage rolls were cooked and some veg was sautéed and that was dinner for Friday.


Saturday was also very food orientated as Kat, Isreal and Ari came over for a late afternoon tea. Nicky and I took it in turns to use the kitchen to prepare our offerings. Nicky made some focaccia and two lovely vegetable dishes from Mary Berry’s cookbook. I made individual cheese and onion tarts and butter chicken tarts (yes, you guessed it, with Nicky’s left over butter chicken from Thursday). The remaining sausage rolls were also served. For dessert I made a non-Newtonian Plum delight (sponge, stewed plums and custard in layers). Kat and co brought cherries and grapes. It all turned out very well, one of the veg dishes especially. We had a good time and Ari, who is nearly three, kept us entertained. We didn’t manage to eat everything last night, so you can guess what we are having for dinner tonight…


We came 5th at the quiz this week with 84 points and finished watching Trigger Point series 3. On Wednesday a couple of passing French tourists asked if they could leave some of their belongings with us while they went into town to collect their e-bikes. The two young lads collected their gear while we were at the quiz and before Steve arrived. I discovered on Thursday morning that they had dropped a wetsuit so they collected that later, before cycling to Wellington. With Steve staying, games of Scrabble have been played, and John joined in with one when he called in for a cuppa on Thursday.


The weather has been good much of the week so we have got quite a lot of work done in the garden. The garden waste wheelie bin is now overflowing, even though I have twice used the Jan Baraclough patented method of jumping up and down in it to compress the material. It is due to emptied next week.


Take care, Rick and Nicky.

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