Another busy week. We’ve been asked a couple of times how we fit everything in, well truth be told this blog is usually one of the casualties – you have probably realised this already. There are plenty of times I try to make a start, but things come up so I have to put it back down again. So I’m going to sit here at the kitchen table and type out a load of clap-trap as the snow falls outside and Cath clears away the breakfast dishes from the guest living room.
Anyway, so what’s happened this week? The massage leaflet drop last week helped to kick things off, but it’s slow at the moment but that’s only because at the start of a business like this she has to rely heavily on word-of-mouth. Things are moving though, and she has had a few appointments already this week. You can imagine that she has a natural flair for meet and greet, and she quickly puts people at ease before giving them a good pummelling. I know I’ve been done few times and it’s really helped my back.
We have guests! The house was cleaned by Cath to within an inch of it’s life by Cath while I was laid up with a 24 hour illness – I had uncontrollable shakes and almost collapsed in the bathroom. I ended up on the sofa with a hot water bottle called Andre, a tub of ice-cream and a tin of peaches for the rest of the day. It took a second day to get over it, and the benefit was that I am now below 14st 
Oh yes, the guests. They’re a nice couple that have been here for a couple of nights. I’ve finally started cooking breakfasts, and was pretty nervous to on the first morning so I thought I’d start with something easy. Well there’s nothing easier than a full English so there I was grilling bacon (well, I say bacon) and sausages (hah!), poachng eggs and boiling up beans. They were a bit worried that I might throw some fried bread on the plate, but I told them that there was not a lot of chance of that – that’s for the older generation, eh dad? You would think I’ve never cooked before. I’ve certainly never had anyone pay for my cooking before, so the night before I did breakfast we had a full English for tea. Today I’ve just upped the ante and produced Eggs Benedict – is there no end to my talents? Guess what we had for dinner last night?
Cath meanwhile has a bad back. It’s been brewing for a little while, but became worse after a trip to a massage therapist; in fact she could hardly walk the other day. It’s been brought on by a lot of things – partly cycling, partly having to paint a load of fencing for me to put up later, and partly, well probably genetic what with her backward-bendy legs ‘n’ all. We have a meet and greet with a doctor this week who is an athlete himself and is very good with physical conditions, so I think Cath will be in good hands there. I think a trip to a physiotherapist is on the cards though.
Meanwhile, snow! It keeps coming down you know, a good thing for a ski resort (I think the base at the top is over a metre already) and it keeps my snow moving muscles honed. I broke out the blower the other day and reacquainted myself with it idiosyncrasies. Once started I found I could clear the whole drive within an hour and get the see the family of white tailed dear that have been hanging around the neighbourhood. They look like young siblings that come around most evenings looking for bits of grass under trees.
I feel I need to add that Jason’s breakfasts went down an absolute storm – they LOVED them – no surprise really for anyone that’s eaten any of Jason’s gorgeous food
I also baked lemon drizzle cake which they also liked, so I sent them home with the rest of the cake today! I’ve also just baked a chocolate cake that Lesley gave me the recipe for earlier – seems to have worked Lesley – Bob and Jase are currently out taking photos so they’re going to do the testing when they get back…..I’ll wait with baited breath.
I’m off for an easy swim to see if it eases the back at all – fingers crossed! Really annoying that it won’t shift, no matter how much stretching and rolling on my foam roller I do! – boo!
Glad it’s all going well, but I think you need to put up a warning on your blog ‘Do not read on an empty stomach!!!’ All that talk of breakfasts and cake has sent me scurrying to the chocolate machine ….
BTW, is that a bottle of wine in your hand, Jase? Bury your champers in the snow before you head out for a walk and it’s nicely chilled for when you get back … provided you don’t forget where you put it
I’m afraid it’s a bottle of water, Hils – nothing quite as interest as a bottle of wine!
I can attest to the culinary wonders of our Jase!! He is a true magician in the kitchen – turning seemingly ordinary fare into delectable feasts!
And Cath — a lemon DRIZZLE cake? WOW — just reading *drizzle* made the sides of my tongue pucker and tingle — you English have a way with words though. Hahahaha! (Although the description of my tongue puckering has a certain flair, no? Hahahaha!)
So sorry to hear about your back — I have every confidence that you WILL get through this and get it sorted out.
Although, we did talk about the fact that we were missing a small flask of whisky – if it’s good enough for Ernest Shackleton!
Hey Julie! Cath’s a dab hand at cakes now. I have to get out of the way when she gets going in the kitchen – or should I say Cath’s Cakery? Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t…
Yo, typed in a message and it all disppeared so will have to try and remeber what witty repartee I imparted..
Lemon drizzle cake – well recommended – ask Lou…
Glad to hear you are feeling better, Jase
Sorry you’re not feeling well, Cath
Are the the same deer that visited when I was there? They were so cute…
Enjoy the snow..it’s raining here…lots…and lots…and lots..
I didn’t know that a tub of ice cream (flavour?)and a tin (tin Jase, TIN, surely that should be a CAN?) of peaches was a cure for uncontrollable shakes and almost collapsing in the bathroom, fancy that!!!!!
Full English you say. Not on your life. Not without the fried slice it isn’t!!!!!!
Hope your back is getting better Cath, you’ll need to be fit if the snow keeps coming down thick n fast.
Another thing Catherine, I hope that this is only a flirtation with the cakey stuff. I would hate to to think you have forsaken cooking real food, like the art of making a fantastic TOAD IN THE HOLE…
Of course it’s the answer to nearly collapsing! Works every time! Back is on the mend – went to the physio last night who worked absolute wonders – 1.5 hrs treatment for £30, that’s what I call a bargain!
And as for baking, frightening, but I’m ADDING to my cooking repitoire….who’da thought eh?!
backward-bendy legs – how rude!