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Wednesday 23 March 2011

Well that's Christmas over for another year.......

I know you're thinking "WTF is she on about?"   Well I'll tell you.


You may remember in October last year MWM and I went on the Lancastrian Diner on the East Lancs Railway for Sunday lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it.  You can read about it here.    A photograph of me being served my meal actually features in the brochure for the event, you can see it here on page 4, I'm wearing a red dress and you can see the various menus and special events they offer too.  

Anyway, we were showing the brochure to M&FIL and as we couldn't decide what to buy them for Christmas we asked them if they would like to experience lunch on a Steam Train as their Christmas present, to which they answered yes.    Unfortunately the dining train only runs between March and December so they had to wait until last Sunday for their present.    As FIL is 93 years old and a bit infirm it wasn't feasible for them to go on their own so we went with them.


Here we are on the train just prior to enjoying a lovely lunch. 

Me and MIL


MWM and FIL

Here's the menu.

 
Cream of mushroom soup with crusty rolls & butter
~
Roast leg of lamb with mint sauce & pan gravy, Roast and New Potatoes,
Carrots and Broccoli
~
Apple & blackberry pie with fresh cream
~
Coffee and mints


We washed it down with a very nice bottle of Rioja, except MWM who had water because he was driving home, followed by coffee and mints .

We had a toast and wished each other a Happy Christmas, which caused some amusement to our fellow passengers within earshot as you might imagine.    M&FIL both said they'd had a wonderful day and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, of course we did too. 

Now what can we buy them this year?

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG what a fun gift that is. Great pictures my friend and the menu sounds delish. You know gifts like that are the best even if you do have to wait. Well done my friend :)

MorningAJ said...

May I be the "first" to wish you Happy New Year then? :)

Looks like you had a great time.

I love the sound of the wartime menu in the brochure - but it's an awful lot like the food I already cook to save money!

Valerie said...

That was a Christmas gift worth waiting for... lovely.

mrsnesbitt said...

Good one Pearl! Our Christmas is sorted too - MIl coming here with the rest of the family - so my new lounge carpet will be just in time. As we work through our DIY project I am setting myself deadlines - so Christmas for the arpet is a good one don't you think. Why give myself any unecessary stress! lol!
The weather is on the up and up so the motorbike will be itching to get out for it's Sunday adventures so we must meet up somewhere. Dxxx

Akelamalu said...

M&FIL were pleased with their unusual gift Thom and we got to enjoy it too. :)

Happy New Year to you too AJ LOL The wartime menu is everyday fare isn't it?

The inlaws thought so too Valerie :)

LOL you've made your Christmas plans already eh Denise? Good for you, there's nothing like being organised. ;) Hopefully we will get to meet up in the summer.

Marshall Family said...

Oh how lovely. Mmmm such a divine menu too! What a lovely experience and how lucky you are to have done it more than once now!

Daryl said...

What a terrific gift. I suggest another lunch or dinner somewhere special .. with you two of course because thats what makes it special!

Ron said...

Oh drats, for some reason I couldn't get to the photo of you on the train. It wouldn't allow me to open it.

What a WONDERFUL gift to give to your M&FIL. I bet they had the time of their lives. And you too!

"Apple & blackberry pie with fresh cream"

Yummy!

Lovely photos, m'dear!

You look so beautiful!

X

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

oh how fun! and mwm looks like his daddy! go again next year...

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxooxxo

Akelamalu said...

Yes, we are lucky to have done it twice now and will probably do it again Emmie :)

We were thinking along the same lines Daryl

Oh what a shame you couldn't open the link Ron, you would have been able to read the other menus. We did have a great time.

We thought may the Red Rose Diner (evening train) next year Bee. Actually Eddie is MWM's stepfather, I should have said.

A Lady's Life said...

This was a wonderful gift even if they got to enjoy it a bit later lol
And you all did it together which made it even better :)

Connie T. said...

What a wonderful gift. It was worth the wait.

aims said...

What about an overnight cruise somewhere? We took a 2 night cruise to the Bahamas and I heard some rooms were going for $99. We had a wonderful time!

It wasn't a huge cruise ship - just a smaller old one with real wood paneling everywhere! They looked after me really well as I couldn't eat a thing anyone else was eating - of course!

Maybe there's something like that around for you?

Unknown said...

What a spiffing idea for a gift. I wouldn't mind going on one of their themed nights, so I shall be keeping this in mind.

I couldn't see the photo of you in the brochure, though :(

Travis Cody said...

Well, perhaps you can make this a traditional gift for as long as they enjoy it.

Windsmoke. said...

Mouth watering menu. I hope the ride wasn't to bumpy :-).

Maggie May said...

That was wonderful.
Don't you all look lovely!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Commander Zaius said...

Love apple and blackberry pie!

Spiky Zora Jones said...

akelamalu: I think that is a fabulous christmas gift. I want something like that...a train trip to San Francisco.same and back.

I have to start leaving hints...now huh?

Will you let us know what you will get them next? :)
Ciao honey.
PS...you get to eat the best food...yummy.

Cloudia said...

gosh you look nice!


Aloha to you
from Waikiki!


Comfort Spiral

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secret agent woman said...

What a great gift and how cool that you're in the ad. (Although, sadly, a menu that wouldn't work for me!)

Akelamalu said...

I think they enjoyed it more because we were all together Lady's Life :)

It was definitely worth the wait Connie :)

That sounds like a good idea Aims, I'll look into it.

Oh do look into it Sharon, I'm sure you'd enjoy it. :)

We will ask them if they would like to do it again Trav :)

We had a very smooth ride Windsmoke :)

Thanks Maggie :)

Me too Beach Bum ;)

Yes start hinting now Spiky! Of course I will report back on what we get them next year. :)

Why thankyouCloudia x

I was surprise to see myself in the brochure SAW. I know the menus wouldn't be right for you being a vegetarian, shame that because I know you would enjoy the experience.

Charlene Amsden said...

Fun! and you made the joy of Christmas linger this year!

Akelamalu said...

It was quite nice celebrating Christmas in March Quilly :)

CrystalChick said...

What a wonderful gift! And going together was really nice too. Glad you all had a good time. Hooray for you being in the brochure! Lovely photo. Ooh, and they have Murder Mystery events. Sounds fun.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Happy Christmas - LOL! It's always time for Christmas, isn't it, eh, what?

LOVE the shot of you in the brochure!