Sunday 8th July – lunch at Cally’s mother’s house in anticipation of the birthday to come.

My father travelled the furthest, all the way from San Francisco for lunch, but my mother’s cooking – and Anne’s chocolate cake – is worth it. Anne was visiting from Cambridgeshire; Jonny, Andy, Stuart and the birthday girl just drove down the road from Dundee.  My mother lives there so it is handy for her.

It’s not really salad kind of summer at the moment. After the roast beef, the Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and more kinds of veg than I can now remember (though the leeks in cheese sauce are delightfully vivid) we set about the serious business of pudding. I made a little social faux pas by putting slices of chocolate birthday cake on to the plates already laden with creme brulee and berries from the garden. Apparently I was supposed to use a separate set of plates. If my table manners aren’t what they should be after 40 years, I reckon it is a bit late to worry about it. They taste great together anyway.

Friday 13th July - yes, it was a Friday, and all the luckier for it. Stuart took me out for dinner in the pouring rain, which was a charming reminder of my 30th birthday.

The Tasting Rooms were holding a dinner with music so this was our chance to try a place we’ve heard a lot of good things about.

On this occasion the menu was not that spectacular and seemed to have been based on a glut of sweet potato (sweet potato soup followed by sweet potato mash) and a surprising lack of effort in the pudding. Let’s face it, we can all do strawberries and cream ourselves (see entry below in fact). However, the wine, a 2006 Marlborough Dry Riesling, was fantastic, cheese and fruit together in a glass. Well, that’s how I would describe it, though I realise I have no credentials in this area.

The music was also a real treat. New to us, the guitar-playing of Marcus Ford and the glorious voice of Niki King made a fabulous night out. I want to use words I normally hate like virtuoso so it is better if I don’t say anything at all.

I should have taken plenty of photos, but found that the catering was enough to keep me busy, so here instead is a souvenir menu.

A variant on felafel, developed in the surprise absence of cumin
Salmon fritters
Potato salad with basil and parmesan
Roast peppers, courgettes and aubergines
all made by Cally

Beetroot, apple and pear salad
Red-everything coleslaw
Green leafy salad and sliced tomatoes
all made by Stuart

Slices of ham
made at Jamesfield Farm

Bread
made by Tescos

Sausage rolls
Chocolate mousse
Creme brulee
Meringues
all made by Dorothy

Strawberries
Whipped cream
not really made by Cally and Stuart, but we did put them into bowls

I am not sure how many people were eventually fed from the above, but I’d say the creme brulee went the fastest.  It is funny how often that happens.

but, amazingly, he does: