The right answer

Two weeks after the tearooms closed and I have finally finished ironing.
Three baskets piled high, plus the inevitable washing loads from this week. I’ve watched a lot of tv quiz shows and have realised that 15-1 is actually quite dull. I much prefer The Chase.
What to do next?
Maybe I should apply...
Or put another load of washing in.

Almost there

One day left.
Today Geoff and Maureen came in for lunch, brought us a box of chocolates and a lovely card, bought a whole fruit cake which Geoff will ply with alcohol until Christmas and a painting from the final exhibition of the year.
Val and Alec brought their wonderful grandson Tai who’s studying to be a mental health professional. Thank goodness for Tai and people like him. V&A are justly proud.
In the conservatory it was gorgeous dog day. One came in a full purple onesie. With legs and everything. Her name is Evie. I wish I’d taken a photo.
A few other regulars popped in for their final visit of the season. It’s so dimly lit in the main room at the moment that we could barely see them. Must buy replacement bulbs for next year.
In home news our underfloor heating in the bathroom has been fixed. Last week it was freeeeeezing in there. Now it’s like walking across hot coals. A temperature adjustment is needed but not exactly easy to pull off.
If only I could wangle some time off to get it sorted.

And may I say, not in a shy way...

We have a range of sandwich fillings, panini fillings and jacket potato fillings.

It’s understandable that some people look at one list and want it to fill something else.

“Can I have a Brie and pear panini?” a lady asked this week. I said she could if she’d like but did she really want warm pear? She screwed up her nose, “Ooh no, thank you” she said. She had the sandwich.

Then today someone asked for a coronation chicken panini. We talked them out of that one too.

Finishing line

Four days before we close for winter and today the oven went on strike.
This made the day slightly tricky. We weren’t able to cook a ham, make more soup, cook bacon or bake scones.
We improvised.
We have run out of Worcester Blue cheese but I won’t be ordering more this close to the end of the season and we have plenty of cheddar and quiche.
The hob came back into use half way through the afternoon, thanks to Adrian’s ingenuity, and tomorrow morning we’ll be playing catch-up. We’ll cook our final 2018 ham and make soup with the last pumpkin (witches brew again).
People will wave as they leave and wish us happy Christmas.
I shall make the most of having a latte whenever I choose (that’s what I miss during the five month closure) and will listen and make notes while members of the team suggest things for next season, mainly things I need to buy/arrange/fix.
Like the oven.
And the dishwasher.