Surprise, Surprise!!!!!!

In true Cilla style, I walked into our favourite restaurant, (Caldesi in Campagna – http://www.campagna.caldesi.com/index.php) last Friday night to be confronted with my best friend and her husband. No great shakes you may think – but they live in Spain! My lovely husband had managed to organise not only their flights, (no mean feat without the use of a credit or debit card, as he didn’t want me to see the transaction anywhere) but a collection from the airport, and their safe delivery to the lovely resturant in Bray on Thames in time to have them sitting expectantly at the table when we arrived. Being loud, Nothern types, (well, in my case, Southern born but Northern bred) we shrieked and squealed with no regard for the quiet dining of other guests and talked so much we finished one bottle of chanpagne even without noticing! As always, the food was sublime – fresh ravioli stuffed with sea bass; calves liver and olive oil mash; beef carpaccio that tastes like no other with generous shavings of parmesan and peppery rocket – if you haven’t tried it yet, I recommend it – with or without squeals of surprise!!! As if that weren’t excitement enough, we walked through the front door to be greeted by best friend’s grown-up son and fiance – more unexpected (by me, not by LH) visitors – he on leave from the Army for a few days. Of course, ever the practical, my next thoughts were of beds, bedding and room allocations – especially as we were expecting other friends and parents over the weekend and have a temporary lodger!!! We all squeezed in somehow though and had a fabulous time. Even though someone has forgotten to tell the weather organisers that it’s SUMMER!!!!

Prior to the big surprise, we spent a couple of days at the wonderful Art Deco hotel, Burgh Island  – http://www.burghisland.com/ in  Devon. The ‘summer cocktail’ list contained an innocous tasting, but remarkably addictive and potent offering called the ‘Lost Afternoon’. Earl Grey syrup, Bison Grass Vodka and Bollinger champagne – not only the afternoon, but most of the evening was ‘Lost’ as well 🙂 More about Burgh island another time – have to dash now.