Another busy day – 26 September 2025

We had visitors coming for lunch today. An unusual event.

Usually we have folk coming for dinner in the evening, not for lunch in the afternoon, but sometimes you have to be flexible. I’d made my pannacotta last night and it went in to the fridge before we went to bed. Scamp had marinated her chicken last night too, so we were organised, or so we thought.

I’d forgotten to put the gelatine into the pannacotta last night, so had to decant all four ramekins back into the pot, warm the mixture again and add the gelatine. Then, when the gelatine had dissolved into the mixture I had to refill the ramekins again, with fingers crossed, hoping the pannacotta would come out of the moulds again today!

Scamp had managed to sear the marinated chicken at too high a heat which we think was the reason it turned out a bit tougher than she’d intended. Other than that, we had both done well!

John & Marion arrived just when we were expecting them, and the afternoon went really well. They were telling us about their summer holidays and we were talking about what we had coming up. The food wasn’t mentioned, except to say that the salad Scamp had made was beautiful, because it was. My pannacotta got a good reception too and, yes, all four pots came out cleanly!

We sat an talked for quite a while, just blethering and hearing how the families were getting on. It’s ages since we last had them out for food and definitely the first time we’ve had them for lunch. I think we might do it again some time, all being well.

Just in the middle of lunch the Amazon man knocked the door and handed me a parcel. I knew what was in it. It was a 50mm lens for the new camera. It felt cheap and very plasticky. It hadn’t been very expensive, but the next model in the range was £1,000 more! I think I’ll stick to my £100 version!

We watched the end of Masterchef tonight and both of us agreed who would be the winner and we were both correct. A worthy winner.

PoD was a photo of a Potentilla bush of yellow flowers I passed when I was out for a walk after being a chef for a day.

Heavy rain predicted for tomorrow, but I’m hoping we’ll get to dance class.