On Saturday I was preparing food all day- my daughter made H Nigella's Chocolate Guinness Cake which was great. I recommend this as an easy and delish cake. Nigella is so camp it's hilarious:
This cake is magnificent in its damp blackness... a resonant, ferrous tang ... I've eaten versions ... stuffed and slathered in a rich chocolate icing, I think that can take away from its dark majesty.Whatevs.
Then on Sunday, big family get-together which was lovely. I think I can't completely relax and chat to people when I'm rushing about making sure people have enough to eat and drink, but it was smashing to see them all. My sister's boyf gave H a double bass. Jeepers it's a massive instrument. I'm saying to H 'If you ever wonder whether I am a tolerant and laid-back partner, take a look at that bloody thing in our living room.' Seriously, it's a lot bigger than a full size Dalek. Whether he'll add it to his performance repertoire I am not sure.
On a slight downer - I think our neighbours who are feeding Milo real chicken and tuna have alienated his affections from us. I am not going to enter into some kind of meat-quality arms race to win him back, so I am sticking to (reasonably good) commercial cat food at our end. If he wants to spend most of his time there, I will let him go. He also seems to be limping badly at the moment, so it may be that he is entering some kind of old age decline. Sad, but the natural processes of time.