I invariably begin the day a couple of hours or so before anyone else emerges from bed. This time is devoted to reading and commenting on other people’s posts, and responding to visitors comments on mine.
Sometimes I am distracted by views through the window. Unfortunately the design of the double glazing system does not allow the casements to open properly, if at all. This makes photography difficult. So it was this morning. I was bemoaning the fact that I could only reproduce the image I was seeing through the glass. “I suppose you want me to go outside and clean that window,” stated our Maintenance Department.
That seemed a good idea, so Jackie stepped outside to do the honours,
enabling me to produce the pictures I wanted.
Later, hair and arms decorated willingly by petal confetti, and less welcome by thorn-pricked tattoos, I completed yesterday’s work on Félicité Perpétue.
This afternoon I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2022/07/04/a-knights-tale-143-the-holiday-venue/
It was a favourite treat for Flo as a child to eat at a Harvester pub. This therefore is what we did this evening – in the Cat and Fiddle at Hinton Admiral. All was as good as we remembered it. After plentiful fresh salad from the bar Flo enjoyed rump steak, chips, peas, and onion rings; Jackie enjoyed katsu curry; I rather rashly chose the ultimate mixed grill consisting of an 8 oz rump steak, gammon steak, 1/4 chicken, a meaty rack of ribs, two large sausages, two slices of black pudding, 2 mushrooms, 1/2 tomato, a very large thimble of peas, a bucket of chips, and two fried eggs, sunny side up. While the others watched I managed to eat everything except half the chips, the tail end of a sausage, and one pea. Flo’s dessert was a Belgian waffle with toffee sauce, and Jackie’s was ice cream with toffee sauce. I just begged for mercy. I drank Marston’s ale, Flo drank water, and Jackie drank Diet Coke.
Jackie is a much better sport than I would ever be-I’d have told you to do it yourself (with may be few choice adjectives added for effect). You dinner sounded like too much just from the description. Pictures are lovely by the way.
Thanks very much, Pat. I was defeated by the dinner. I had no idea of the quantities
I would be too. That you got that far is a credit to your appetite or constitution.
“the ultimate mixed grill” is on the very edge of the unbelievable. It is an amazing thing to offer in a restaurant and even more amazing that people can come so close to finishing it. Well done, Derrick! That was a real achievement!!
Thanks very much, John. Way over the edge
Congratulations on almost finishing that feast.
Thanks very much, Sheree
Love the photos, Derrick! And my what a feast you had! One pea left? Made us smile…
Thank you both very much, Maj and Sher
Jackie is very kind–beautiful photos of her and flowers.
Did they have to roll you out of the restaurant after your meal? 🙂
Thanks very much, Merril 🙂
Wow, Derrick, you were a bit hungry, aye! I love the name of the pub, and would love to try the food!
Thanks very much, John
I love header photo of one perfect bloom! Jackie is a very good sport. Your dinner sounds like a real belly-buster.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
It seems you tried to frame Jackie, Well, almost. If it had been the window on the second floor, would Jackie do the honours then? I hope not.
I don’t think you need to eat a meal for a week. 😉
Right on all counts, Chrissy. Thanks very much
A window cleaner on tap! You lead a blessed life.
I think we have that in common, Tootlepedal. Thank you very much
And there she is 💕 Food adds nourishment to the soul.
thank you very much, Val
Haha .. thanks Jackie for cleaning the window for us! … a great photo of the fuchsia Derrick ..
Thanks very much from us both, Ivor
Such lovely photos Jackie looks so happy
Thank you very much, More
You’re welcome Derrick
Cleaning one window can be fun – to be able to see clearly. Still, I marvel at Jackie’s energy. The Fuchsia Delta’s Sarah is exquisite!
Thank you very much, JoAnna
Mmmm
The food sounds so good
And love seeing Jackie through the window – wonderful – and so weee
the blooms
😊🌺
Thank you very much, Yvette
Jackie understands you very well. It would be really nice if you posted some recipes of her vegetarian dishes. Lovely photos.
Thanks very much, Lakshmi. I’ll do my best
that was some dinner, you had. No wonder you couldn’t fit in dessert..
Thanks very much, Catherine
Cleaning windows is on my list … I’ll get there eventually. Meanwhile I can appreciate your enjoyment of being able to see through yours clearly 🙂
Thank you very much, Anne
You have Jackie wound around your little finger. Is there nothing she won’t do for you? What a keeper.
Thank you so much, Gwen.
Love Jackie’s smile.. and oh I sympathise with those thorn-prickle tattoos lol wait till blackberry picking time lol
Enjoy your day Derrick.
Thank you very much, Sue
🙂
Well, a growing lad needs a good feed from time to time, doesn’t he?
I do like your fuschias, they are such attractive blossoms.
Thank you very much, Yvonne
Beautiful Jackie worked so the rest of us could enjoy the view! Thank you, Jackie! 🙂
What a wonderful hearty meal! That be A LOT of food!!!! Did you take the one pea home to eat later?! 😉 😀
(((HUGS))) ❤️
Good job.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Hahaha, the Maintenance Department ☺️
It was all worth it because those pictures are stunning!
And the dinner? Wow! A feast 😋
Thank you so much, Ribana
Wow, what a spread!
Thanks very much, GP. I realise I had forgotten the eggs. Now added
Jackie has cleaned the window to a sparkle, as is vouched by the excellent photo of Fuchsia Delta’s Sarah, not to speak of the delightful portrait of Jackie from behind the glass window. You seem to have eaten to your heart’s content at Flo’s favourite pub.
Thank you very much, Uma
Jackie looks radiant! I enjoyed the photos, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Jill
Thank you, Jackie! Derrick’s photos are beautiful!
It sounds like you, Jackie and Flo had a real feast, Derrick. You left one pea behind? 🙂
A demonstration of defeat, Lavinia. Thank you ver much from us both
Wow! What an enjoyable-sounding feast, Derrick! You have a real gem in Jackie with her contagious smile.
I do. Thanks very much, Eugi
Those are lovely pictures of Jackie, Derrick. Oh, and the flowers are nice too [smile]. My goodness, what a huge meal you ate.
Thank you so much, Robbie 🙂
Lovely! The flowers and Jackie! Are those fuschias or something else? So what is black pudding? is it something with innards in it? If so, you don’ t need to describe it!
Fuchsias yes; innards yes. Thanks very much, Luanne
LOL!
The meal sounds wonderful.
I might have managed it better half a century ago 🙂 Thanks very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
Lovely picture of Jackie and the flowers. I can’t believe you ate almost everything from your order!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Geetha. Never again 🙂
I can imagine you would not want to try that again 🙂
Terribly sorry to learn that Hoegaarden is unavailable sometimes. At least you got some Marston’s ale.
Thanks a lot, John
Just reading what your had to plough through on your plate made me feel full for a week 🙂
Me, too, Helen. Thanks very much
Jackie is just as much into this blog as you are – therefore, keeping the windows clean to facilitate photographing her hard work in the garden is pretty much justified by the results. Good on yer both!
Thanks very much from us both, Sue
You courageously faced that meal down, and remained, almost, undefeated. Bravo on getting as far as you did. 😀
Thanks a lot, Widders
Oh my goodness! That meal of yours sounded like enough to feed the table full of diners! Did they roll you out on a stretcher? BTW, I love that chosen cover photo of the fuschia. (sp?) … we had them in our front yard when we lived in San Mateo (outside San Francisco) with the ocean influence. I love ’em!!
Thanks very much, Jan. Fuchsia 🙂
Goodness me…. What a plentiful dinner you devoured… Well almost 😉
x
Thanks very much, Melanie 🙂
Pleasure.
x
Isn’t it helpful to have such an obliging Maintenance Department, Derrick, and sporting her trademark radiant smile, too?
Absolutely, Dolly. Thank you very much
You are very welcome, Derrick.