Happy Easter

I hope you've all had a really happy, if chilly, Easter.   I took yesterday off and had a lovely day.   After church it was a bit of a scramble to get everything ready for friends arriving for a traditional Easter Lamb roast lunch.  There were only 4 of us but you would have thought I was cooking for a regiment what with nibbles before, all the different veg, some roasted and some boiled (to perfection of course), mint sauce, redcurrant jelly, old-fashioned gravy with not a sniff of Bisto and so on.  The guests provided the cheese course and I'd made a scrummy raspberry parfait (Rick Stein recipe).   All washed down by excellent vino.   

Meanwhile, outside, the 7 1/4 inch gauge steam railway was in full swing with enthusiasts having arrived from all over the country.   They were totally undeterred by the odd snow flurry although the public (for whom it was open for one day only) were obvioulsy not quite so hardy!   We had a  spin around the track after lunch - it's a wonderful experience with superb scenery on top of the steam experience.

Now it's back to work in earnest having thoroughly enjoyed my "day of rest" (?!).  Started at 5 o'clock this morning but will need to take a break after lunch and before entertaining some of the steam boys to supper.  There's another snow flurry falling at the moment but nothing serious.  At least at this time of year you know it won't last too long (famous last words!).  I haven't bothered to take the car to the bottom of the hill so watch this space!

Now then.  It's time to do battle with the internet to try to get some cheap flights to Seville, preferably using airmiles.  That's my next trip - meeting up with Fergus Crystal in the south of Extramadura where he's working on Montagu Harrier research.  We're going to put a tour together for next year which will include some involvement in the project.  It will be in March which is a fine time for the flowers and particularly the orchids.   I'll only be there 3 or 4 days but at least it will give me a taste of what is in store for our clients next year.