mother's visit
Been a good visit. Because she came with a cousin, it has been out of season and quite different than her normal visit in the autumn.
The weekend they arrived, we met up with the couple our cousin had been traveling with in Europe. Amazing people, and a loving couple. Hard working, very intelligent, personable, funny, and curious. He likes Scotch, so I took him to the club. After which we went to Hix for steak for mom and plaice for my cousin (which she's missed since living here). Wine flowed -- they had me choose because it wasn't Californian -- and conversation was brisk and interesting.
They'd been away for almost a month and I got the impression they wanted their last day or so to be relaxing. I woke up on Sunday and had the bright idea to invite them for Sunday lunch around my place. To all of our amazement, they accepted. I then spent the rest of the day stressing about the food. Again, cousin had a requirement to eat chicken "because it is better in England" (no argument from me), so I agreed then worried more because normally my wife roasts the chicken. I had also completely forgotten the amount of work and timing involved. In the end, it was very good. Not as good as my wife's, but still good. Forgot the stuffing in the oven, which is a shame because it tasted great (... and too crispy after dinner), but seasonal asparagus, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, bread sauce (which they loved), excellent gravy, the lot. Fair to say, a good time was had by all, and it was worth all the effort. It's nice for visitors to spend time with locals in their home, and it was equally nice having people around for my cooking and in the house I love.
Then the ladies went to the Cotswolds to scatter ashes and see more friends. I joined them for the weekend just passed. Wasn't entirely looking forward to it if I'm honest, but so glad I went. Saw three villages, all of them beautiful enough to make your eyes bleed. We were invited to a farm for a bbq in the walled garden and summer house. I definitely see a direct correlation with the above. Again, great to spend time with locals. they showed us around the family farm -- he was in law and has since retired to help his brother -- and we chatted and drank wine. Once again, amazing people, for all the same reasons as the first couple. (Both men in law, btw) Come to find the 60 year old wife is really into all sorts of music, including trance of all things (WTF?). We had a great 20 minutes discussing bands, producers, tropes of the genre, etc. Had to stop because we were getting too many blank stares. ANYWAY, after a nice lunch they took us to the local polo ground. Come to find, he played #2 for Oxford and has a photo on his wall of a match against Cambridge where Prince Charles was on the opposing team! (sheeeiiiiiiiit) Really enjoyed watching my first polo match, even if it was the juniors, then we retired to the local pub where he knew everybody. Did I mention it was like being in a Hugh Grant movie it was so archetypically English as Americans would want it? Could not have asked for a better visit to the Cotswolds.
The final highlight of the trip was our last dinner together, last night. Wife included as well as a visiting friend from Oz, I finally got to try Quo Vadis since Jeremy Lee took over. Everyone had the moules frites except me, who could not resist veal, jersey royals, and asparagus. In short, I could eat there every day.
Great to have them, had some brilliant outings, nice to spend time with a cousin-once-removed. Also nice to have some peace and quiet to come home to tonight. Always the way with guests, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
The weekend they arrived, we met up with the couple our cousin had been traveling with in Europe. Amazing people, and a loving couple. Hard working, very intelligent, personable, funny, and curious. He likes Scotch, so I took him to the club. After which we went to Hix for steak for mom and plaice for my cousin (which she's missed since living here). Wine flowed -- they had me choose because it wasn't Californian -- and conversation was brisk and interesting.
They'd been away for almost a month and I got the impression they wanted their last day or so to be relaxing. I woke up on Sunday and had the bright idea to invite them for Sunday lunch around my place. To all of our amazement, they accepted. I then spent the rest of the day stressing about the food. Again, cousin had a requirement to eat chicken "because it is better in England" (no argument from me), so I agreed then worried more because normally my wife roasts the chicken. I had also completely forgotten the amount of work and timing involved. In the end, it was very good. Not as good as my wife's, but still good. Forgot the stuffing in the oven, which is a shame because it tasted great (... and too crispy after dinner), but seasonal asparagus, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, bread sauce (which they loved), excellent gravy, the lot. Fair to say, a good time was had by all, and it was worth all the effort. It's nice for visitors to spend time with locals in their home, and it was equally nice having people around for my cooking and in the house I love.
Then the ladies went to the Cotswolds to scatter ashes and see more friends. I joined them for the weekend just passed. Wasn't entirely looking forward to it if I'm honest, but so glad I went. Saw three villages, all of them beautiful enough to make your eyes bleed. We were invited to a farm for a bbq in the walled garden and summer house. I definitely see a direct correlation with the above. Again, great to spend time with locals. they showed us around the family farm -- he was in law and has since retired to help his brother -- and we chatted and drank wine. Once again, amazing people, for all the same reasons as the first couple. (Both men in law, btw) Come to find the 60 year old wife is really into all sorts of music, including trance of all things (WTF?). We had a great 20 minutes discussing bands, producers, tropes of the genre, etc. Had to stop because we were getting too many blank stares. ANYWAY, after a nice lunch they took us to the local polo ground. Come to find, he played #2 for Oxford and has a photo on his wall of a match against Cambridge where Prince Charles was on the opposing team! (sheeeiiiiiiiit) Really enjoyed watching my first polo match, even if it was the juniors, then we retired to the local pub where he knew everybody. Did I mention it was like being in a Hugh Grant movie it was so archetypically English as Americans would want it? Could not have asked for a better visit to the Cotswolds.
The final highlight of the trip was our last dinner together, last night. Wife included as well as a visiting friend from Oz, I finally got to try Quo Vadis since Jeremy Lee took over. Everyone had the moules frites except me, who could not resist veal, jersey royals, and asparagus. In short, I could eat there every day.
Great to have them, had some brilliant outings, nice to spend time with a cousin-once-removed. Also nice to have some peace and quiet to come home to tonight. Always the way with guests, but wouldn't trade it for anything.