Christmas in the countryside
My sister and I met up with my brother at his new offices at 30 St Mary Axe (‘The Gerkin’) for an early Christmas lunch last Friday. He has the most incredible view over London from his office on the 31st floor, and despite the fact that the weather was terrible – it was still a great experience. We proceeded to the restaurant on the 40th floor which had more beautiful views over London AND fantastic food, and possibly the best Earl Grey tea blend I’ve ever tasted! (is it wrong to get that excited about great tasting tea? I don’t think so) I will definitely be going to visit my brother more often in the New Year.
If I were to regale you all with the fabulous food that my mum cooked over Christmas, it would provoke longings to embark post haste for my parent’s house, there to eat oneself cheerfully to death and gorge on Christmas delights. Everyone claims that their mother is the best cook in the world, but my mum really is the best cook in the world.
Christmas with my parents in the West Midlands was a haze of frosty mornings, country expeditions, conversations aside a crackling open fireplace, wonderful food and sweets, and a couple of great classic Christmas movies thrown in there for good measure. I cannot have Christmas without watching Scrooged at least once – it’s still timeless and classic and still my favourite Christmas movie of all time… just ahead of Die Hard.
On Boxing Day, my friend John, who I’ve known since I was twelve, and his girlfriend drove us out to Hay On Wye – a small town that’s famous for being filled with pretty much nothing but book shops and cafes. They have an annual famous literary festival where my brother saw Bill Clinton speak a few years ago.
We had a great day out walking in the (freezing cold!) countryside and ended it with a nice meal in a country pub at the Llantony Priory, which is the only building left standing in the ruins of an Augustine monastery that was build in 1180AD.
All in all it was a wonderful break for my girlfriend and I. I haven’t been home all year, so it was great to spend some quality time with my parents.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:35 pm
That is an absolutely amazing picture of Hay’s Bluff!! Thanks for sharing it with us.
I have to admit, your mum’s cooking really is the best I’ve tasted, ever. She gets it right, every time!! Something to look forward to, for sure.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Thanks Chorna and yes, my mum’s cooking does rock. I remember when my sister’s friends would come over and do chores around the garden and at the end of the day, mum would cook for all of us and offer them payment for their time and they always said her cooking was payment enough.