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Wednesday 13 February 2008

A Royal Weekend.....

As most of you will know MWM and I spent last weekend with Queenie and Math. For those of you who don't know we have been friends for 18 years, I wrote this post recently about how and when we met. We meet up regularly, though this has been curtailed the past 18 months what with my knee operation and Queenie's hip operation in the pipeline.

We (read MWM) drove the 70 miles on Friday afternoon and were greeted by Queenie and Math with a Champagne Reception. MWM and Math disappeared to the pub (as usual) leaving two excited ladies talking for England and quaffing white wine. When the boys returned from the pub we were still talking, no way do we run out of conversation, and dinner was underway. Queenie is a fabulous cook here's what she treated us to:


Smoked mackerel pâté trimmed with Norwegian salmon and served with warmed sliced baguettes
……………..
Venison steaks presented on a bed of root mash accompanied by red cabbage and beetroot with buttered French beans. Served with a succulent redcurrant and red onion sauce au jus.
………………
Hand picked Moroccan strawberries, dipped in rich dark chocolate, served with a cheeky saucy pot au chocolat
.......................
Liqueurs and coffee with selected after dinner mints
……………….
Brandy and Port


It was as delicious as it sounds - take my word for it.

The boys (eventually) prised us apart and insisted it was time to call it a day, it was late (very late) when we went to bed. Our first night together is always that way. Even though we speak all the time on the phone we just have so much to talk about when we meet up. Queenie and I spent the following day chilling (read recovering) whilst the boys went out for a walk.

Nat (Queenie & Math's son) arranged to meet us at one of the restaurants (Red Hot World Buffet) he's designed on Saturday evening, where we were treated like royalty - Nat introduced us as his Aunt and Uncle - we're not really, as Peter Kay says "His Dad borrowed a screwdriver once!" The food and the atmosphere are fantastic and he's done a wonderful job on the decor. It was a long drive so by the time we got back it was gone 11 p.m. and we were all shattered, mainly from the night before, so we sat down with a cup of tea and started watching Sweeney Todd. By midnight we were ready for bed and thankfully Queenie was the first to admit it - giving us green light to retire for the night.

On Sunday we had a leisurely breakfast and by midday were were on our way over to meet Nat at his penthouse, where he has panaoramic views over the River Trent. I've put together a little slide show for you.






After a tour of the penthouse we popped across the road for a glass of wine then set off back to have Sunday lunch at a local hostelry. We had a lovely leisurely lunch (with wine) and got back home about 5 p.m. (just in time for me to watch Dancing on Ice!) Then guess what? It was time to go out again! This excursion was just to the pub up the road for Quiz night - we love quizzes! Just take a look at the photo below






WE WON! We only got one question wrong, a picture question which we had to admit we hadn't got a clue, but we weren't convinced they quizmaster had the right answer anyway! Our prize was a (very) little trophy and a round of drinks and we were thrilled, though the other locals were a bit peeved!


Victorious we returned home to stuff ourselves with a lovely selection of cheese and biscuits and yet more wine- you will have realised by now that we like wine! Once again Queenie and I had to be prised apart (at 4 a.m.) when the boys insisted it was definitely time for bed.


Then, before we knew it Monday arrived and it was time to take our leave, but not until Math had produced scrambled eggs and smoked salmon for our breakfast. We were all 'cream crackered' but we'd had a fantastic weekend (as always) and it was all over - well until next time!


Queenie battled through our weekend, in pain most of the time, but determined to enjoy every single minute - and we did! She'd had some really good news on Friday but I'll leave that for her to tell you. We're hoping that sometime this year we will do what we haven't been able to do for a long time - go out for a boogie - that's our ultimate aim and knowing Queenie if it's at all possible she will do it!


Thanks Queenie & Math (not forgetting Nat) for yet another super weekend. xxxx


(PS I'm on the waggon now for the rest of the week!)

31 comments:

la bellina mammina said...

Great fun! Told Queenie, next time I come along! ;-)
And, Happy Blogoversary!!!

Flowerpot said...

sounds like a great weekend Ak - it'll take you time to recover!

Queenie said...

Big sigh! missing you babe, the place feels so empty, with Math at work and you and Mwm back home. Lets hope its not to long before we are dancing on that ballroom floor.

buffalodick said...

So good to read about true friends having a good time! Tell Queenie she has kept her cooking skills too quiet! I want to hear more of that..

MarmiteToasty said...

Such special friends come alone once in a lifetime.... you all look so beautiful and happy and as one... sounds like a wonderful fun filled, drink filled LOL, laughter filled weekend.....

x

the rotten correspondent said...

What an absolutely perfect weekend. It sounds like an amazing time was had by all!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful time! I am happy for you. The pictures from the Penthouse house are superb. Thank you for sharing. It is wonderful to have such great friends.

Akelamalu said...

Oh yes you must Bella we'd have a whale of a time!

I'm hoping to be recovered by tomorrow Flowerpot, MWM and I are going shopping and lunching! :)

Missing you to my lovely Queenie, my fingers are crossed that your lovely surgeon does your op soon and we can go dancing. xx

Queenie has a lot of lights hidden under her bushel Buffalo ;)

It was definitely all of those things Marmie xx

Perfect just about sums it all up RC!

It truly is wonderful to be blessed with good friends Dave, glad you liked the photos. x

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

it sounds perfectly lovely, well all except for the part that said "Smoked mackerel pâté" that is. you lost me there! ha ha ha

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxooxoxxo

CG said...

What a truly wonderful weekend you had! I'm so glad :)

Jo Beaufoix said...

Wow. Sounds fantastic. And how good a cook is Queenie? Glad you all had such a wonderful time. :D

Pam said...

i am totally envious of you all...i want to have good friends and good times..can't you tell by the shade of green i'm turning? lol

the food sounds good though a little 'out of my league' i don't have a high class palate lmao

i can tell queenie is a fighter and i KNOW you all will be boogieing soon :)

oh, being part filipino we always called my mom's and dad's good friends who were also filipino (not the american ones because they don't get it lol) auntie and uncle as a sign of respect...i think it's so cool nat introduced you as his aunt and uncle :)

Akelamalu said...

I take it you don't like smoked.mackerel.pate Bee??? :)

Thanks CG we did. x

Queenie's a great cook Jo!

I'm sure such a lovely person as you has many good friends Ciara! We were always brought up to address parent's friends as aunt and uncle too as a sign of respect. Of course Nat has been brought up proper like us! :)

Elaine Denning said...

When I read what was on the menu, all I could hear was the M&S voice! It sounded delicious. I do love a good dinner party...and the rest of your stay sounded perfect too. Wine, a quiz, conversation, more wine, great food, and ummmm more wine. Ideal! I'm glad you all had a great time.

K M F said...

great weekend ..

Linda said...

Sounds like an absolutely fantastic weekend! If I were you I'd still be sleeping it off but it would be so worth it!

Hopefully and Queenie will get that turn around the dance floor soon! Can't wait to read that post!

Little Wing said...

The food alone would have been good reason to go, but the friendship you and queenie share is priceless!

Catch said...

What great pictures! I would have loved to be there with you and Queenie!!! What laughs we could have had!

barman said...

What an awesome friendship and fantastic weekend you four had. To the next time... cheers.

Heather said...

HEHE You two certainly had a lovely time! Happy Valentine's Day!

Mona said...

That is such a wonderful sharing of beautiful moments! I love this post & also the pictures! :)

TopChamp said...

sounds great fun.... All of it. Food bits, wine bits, cinema (johnny depp) bits and ESPECIALLY the friendship bits.

Akelamalu said...

It was as good as it sounded Miss U:)

It truly was kmf

I am still recovering Linda!

Queenie is a very special friend Little Wing :)

You would have so enjoyed it Catch. Maybe one day we can all get together. x

Yes Barman it was a fantastic weekend.

We always do Heather :)

I'm happy you enjoyed reading about our weekend Mona

We had a ball topchamp, we still have to finish watching the film though!

Krimo said...

Sounds like you had a great time with Q. Good on you!

Michael Serafin-St. John said...

Ahhhh such wonderful food! And here I sit consuming coffee, Polish rye bread and kapusta (sauerkraut and sausage with mushrooms and a little tomato). Well, what I have is good, and I'm thankful to have it, but for breakfast???? Much rather have been with you for those eggs! And pate! And venison! OMG....

Akelamalu said...

Yep Krimo we had a fab time - but we always do! :)

I love Polish Rye Bread, in fact the scrambled eggs were on the very same imperfectnerd!

Michael Serafin-St. John said...

We have a place called the European Bakery in the old Polish part of town known as "Frogtown". It was where most of the boilermakers at the old Michigan Central RR shops used to live (including my Grandfather). The bakery still uses coal to fire the ovens. (Frogtown got its nickname from the marshes on the Grand River.)

Akelamalu said...

That's interesting imperfectnerd. The town where I live is known locally as 'Monkeytown' because the wooden stools that were abundant here all had a hole in the middle - for the monkey tails! :)

Michael Serafin-St. John said...

Officially our town is called Jackson, after Andrew Jackson, previously Jacksonburgh. It has acquired other monikers over the years..."Jacktown," from the slang of the prisoners held at Southern Michigan State Prison, "Screw Machine City" for its many machine shops, "Rose City" for its annual festival, and "The City of Beautiful Trees." But I just call it "Home."

~ej said...

what a weekend!!! :)
well done on the quiz too!!

Akelamalu said...

Home is good imperfectnerd! :)

It was Elena and thanks. x