Dinner Day

When I woke up yesterday morning, I knew something was wrong. Fred was not in the bedroom howling, and when I got up and dressed, Ethel was not on the counter awaiting breakfast. I began searching for them, and soon Fred came to say good morning, but there was no sign of Ethel. Then I saw why.

The door of the cattery was open. I found Ethel outside, but she was wise to me. She’d come when I’d call, but she wouldn’t let me get too close. She took off and started racing around the backyard. I had a hunch. I came in and blocked the little passage they have through the door between the house and the cattery, and I opened the other door that opened on the deck and Ethel came running inside. Phew, order restored.

 Once reunited and fed, I got busy in the kitchen. I made the mushroom spread first, and then I made the salad. I’ll never made it again. It takes for fucking ever to make, but I’m really looking forward to tasting it. Almost everything I’m serving is new to me.

Once that work was done. I took Her Highness for a walk. She is much better today, thanks to the skills that I’ve developed in treating her feet. We only went for a short walk, but at least we were walking again. Then I came home to make the salad dressing and to clean and tidy up in the house. Plus, I set up the chairs and table in the garden in case we assemble out there for our canapés.

Then it was more work on the f’ing salad, the most labour-intensive dish. Then I vacuumed and tidied, toasted sliced baguette for the spreads, de-veined and peeled the shrimp, and then came a crisis. My garden was full of seriously wilting plants, so I had to do work I did not want to do. I watered for just over an hour on a day when I was pressed for time.

With lots left to do at Pinecone Park, at 14:30, I went into the village for some more supplies, I walked Her Highness, and then I came home to finish setting up the patio table and chairs, and I set the table. Then I could relax. I had an hour to chill, which was good, because when I get overly tired my speech goes to crap.

I may never entertain again. What one hell of a lot of work it is. But I may feel it was all worth it by the end of the evening. I was happy that we were going to have the canapés in the garden. The table looks so nice hen it is set and there are my hand-blown glasses at each setting. But tired?! Man-oh-man yes! I walked 14,000 steps yesterday, most of them were in the kitchen and around the yard. My walks with Sheba were short.

I got all that I wanted to do done. The main I cooked while my guests talked at the table after our salad. But everything was prepped. Everyone was impressed with my meal, and they were generous with their praise. I felt great, and I will make that salad again because it is divinely delicious.

They left around 20:00, and I immediately got busy with doing all the dishes. I do not have a dishwasher, so it was all done by hand. I was chuffed about rising in the morning on My Day and having the entire day to myself and no dishes to do. And … leftovers! Yum! I’m going to have the most excellent meal tonight.

I went to bed with a book just before 21:00. I’d walked 16,000 steps by the time my head hit the pillow. But what a great night! Perhaps the best thing about the day was how much better my arm felt after changing the bandage. I am going to change it every two days from now on. It’s going to be a long haul. There is no scab yet. It is still a raw wound.