Beautiful wall to wall sunshine for days on end and we had the perfect excuse for a trip to the beach yesterday. With birthday season well underway in the household, The Chief could think of no better a present than a day enjoying the sea air and a tasty meal at one of our favourite seaside spots.

There at the Coast Cafe was the table at the front of the decked area on the shingle beach, ready and waiting for us to sit down and savour the flavours of a home cooked meal, whilst gazing out to sea.

Who could believe we were still in March as we looked out at girls in bikinis, toddlers in their sun hats and the pensioners strolling along hand in hand!  The lucky builders from the construction site nearby found a delightful spot for their lunch.

Much as I am enjoying the summer weather, we are desperate for water and with the ban on using hosepipes coming into force next week, I'm going to have to rethink any plans on planting summer flowers.

I don't like Mother's Day

Is anybody else brave enough to agree with this?  It isn't that I don't appreciate the thought and all the wonderful gestures, it is just the commercial pressure to make it an amazing day, just one day. I think it all started shortly after my mother died and I was faced with the shops full of encouragement to buy something wonderful for your mother.  If only, I don’t have a mother any more.  I found it heartbreaking, and still do.

In the couple of months before the day, I feel I am being assaulted from every direction with offers to 'Make Mothers Day special' and 'Give your Mother the perfect gift', every business has jumped on the bandwagon to promote an event which can be so painful for many. I hope my girls don’t feel under pressure to make sure they have bagged a present to make me happy, simply because the rest of the country have been teased into a frenzy by media hype.  They try to make me smile every day.  I know they try their best to be helpful and thoughtful and that is how it should be.

I was treated to a ‘kitchen ban’ whilst they prepared a tasty meal, and in the evening was invited to a table set with flowers from the garden, a plate of wicked red velvet cupcakes, a bottle of bubbly and two beautifully created homemade cards.  I always use the cards as bookmarks in my cookery books and whilst cooking will come across lovely memories of the girls and their developing creative talents!   But no special lunch booked in a packed out restaurant, full of families trying to make their Mum feel special for just one day in the year. Also, they know me better than to bring a bunch of over priced flowers over the threshold, it is far more exciting to be surprised by a few blooms, for no reason at all.

I hope all Mothers enjoyed a lovely day and the children will remember to be thoughtful every day.  I am still chuckling at a comment from Major Darling, she said I really must go and sit down for half an hour, I've been on my feet in this kitchen all day! I know the feeling!

Happy Birthday!

I actually enjoyed my birthday this year.

The awful build up and anticipation of reaching a significant number last year sent me spiralling down for a few weeks before, finding that everything going wrong related the speeding years.  I suddenly decided I was dressing too young for my age and needed to have a major clear out.  Needless to say, I tried the clearout idea, but am too sentimental so just tried to pack away a few things!

This year I looked forward to a day of being spoilt and suddenly understood what parents meant when they said that they didn’t really want presents.  I felt so much more grateful for the cards and kind thoughts and deeds, although the thoughtful gifts were very much appreciated.

I do always expect it to be a sunny day, marking the beginning of springtime so was a bit disappointed to wake to a dull gloomy morning.  But no need to worry, by the time we had arrived in Richmond and found a tiny parking space by the river, the sun was shinning for the walk across the picturesque water meadows to find Petersham Nurseries.

We have been meaning to visit for some time and there has been a bit of gossip in the press recently about the difficulty of having a Michelin star in a quirky, bohemian place where the waitresses wear wellies and there is mud on the floor!  It is utterly charming.

The walk to Richmond along the riverbank from this direction is so pretty and we soon discovered an intriguing set of flint archways and a tunnel through to iron railings.

This had taken us under the road into the terrace gardens and at the top of the hill was a very special little Café, called the Hollyhock.  Enjoying a coffee on the terrace looking out across the river, felt like sitting in a tree house.  We’ll be back!

Tea with the Gals, beautiful gifts and a delicious rhubarb and custard crumble cake with candles from Borough Market finished the afternoon and I arrived home to find Mini Darling had been busy in the kitchen and had built a stunning tower of cardamom cup cakes with candles glowing all around and Major Darling had been in charge of a delicious plate of canapés. 

The Chief cooked a tasty steak supper on the BBQ, I think our new neighbours might think we are just slightly bonkers!