It’s only Sunday morning, but it’s already been a wonderful weekend. This is probably partly influenced by the knowledge that I have next week off work, and whilst I’m lucky enough to love most aspects of my job from the reassuring rhythm of daily routine to the social interaction with colleagues and customers, and not to forget the often challenging nature of the actual work, the one thing that having to work for a living deprives you of, is time. Time to read a magazine, a blog, or a book. Time to potter and mooch without worrying about things you should be doing. Time to do the things you want to do rather than the things you need to do. Bliss, a whole week of time ahead of me.
Friday evening was an evening of firsts. An evening out at a restaurant in the Great Western Arcade in Birmingham city centre. Great Western Arcade wasn’t a first in itself since I have been there before many times, but I estimate that the last time I wandered along that fabulously eclectic corridor was at some point in my early twenties and eating there was definitely a first.
We ate at a specialist vegetarian restaurant called Bistro 1847, the first time I’ve ever eaten at a vegetarian restaurant. I’ve tried to be vegetarian several times but I always fail after a couple of months. I am an animal lover and I am deeply concerned about their welfare, but I just don’t seem to be able to summon the willpower to resist meat long-term. It’s entirely my fault that I’m a failed vegetarian, but I have found that it isn’t made easy when eating out, the options are limited and often high in calories and if going for fast food, well, it’s not fast because they never have the veggie option ready. Supply and demand problem I guess. Anyway, a bit of delicious food porn ……
Garden Pea Falafel – peas are my favourite vegetable so this was a no brainer, although I almost went the way of goats cheese bonbons.
Potato Pave. I googled what pave meant expecting something complicated and foody. The answer? Square! So basically a mouth wateringly delicious paving stone of potato.
Dark chocolate nemesis. Definition of nemesis: anyone or anything which seems to be the cause of someone’s downfall or defeat. Well, if this is the way I’m going to go I’m happy with that!
My company for this meal of firsts was two of my favourite people, but two who (another first) had never met before but got on famously. Big tick for Friday night and Bistro 1847.
Saturday brought about another first. I went to watch the fourth day of the England vs India cricket test match at Edgbaston.
My Mum used to watch the cricket during the summer holidays back in the days of Ian Botham, David Gower and Mike Gatting, but I confess that I haven’t paid masses of attention to the cricketing world since then other than a brief teenage crush on Mark Ramprakash in the 90s, but I had a great time and we won!
There’s actually a lot more science to it than just someone chucks a ball and someone else tries to hit it as far as they can. Fascinating! I’ll definitely be paying attention from now on.
A final cricketing observation – who knew they did gardening after it’s finished?!? Hahahaha
The tickets for this event were gifted to us by a very special friend who works at the cricket ground, and she, being one of the kindest people I know, also sorted out a food hamper for us which I think we’ll be eating for the next few days! More food porn alert ……
It’s a hamper and a half!
Back home I decided I’d better check the garden to make sure all my plants were coping with the lack of attention since Thursday. Pleased to report they’re all doing marvellously.
The tomatoes and courgettes are coming on nicely. Not far off ready to harvest.
And my rose hot chocolate, has a new flower blooming. What a precious and unexpected surprise! My Mum bought us this rose when we moved into our house and it is supposed to repeat flower, but in previous years it didn’t seem to know that. So when we had flowers in June, I assumed that would be it until next year. Imagine my joy when I spotted this!
Green Girl Gardener 