Oneupmanship

Mattaya, my grand daughter turned one this week. Danielle organised a DIY picnic at Willen Lake. It turned out to be a lovely lunch in glorious sunshine. For my contribution, I made a quiche and some rhubarb muffins - the ingredients of which were home grown. I exaggerate, the tomatoes in the quiche and the rhubarb in the muffins were grown in my little garden. The bubbly I brought along was definitely not home grown in any way. This was my contribution to one-upmanship. 

We had a couple of blankets and some chairs, a cool box and a wheelie cart - this was a really useful piece of picnic equipment. Having seen Sophie's wheelie cart in action, I think I need one too. Sophie had the edge on the organisation front! As I offered my food around, I mentioned several times that some bits of my dishes were home grown. Sophie, for her part said her sausage rolls came from a local reputable supermarket and were freshly baked at home but were not home grown. The tease started, but, with all the effort I put in to growing bits of my own food, I took it on the chin. 

Danielle made a rainbow cake for her rainbow baby. By the time it was served, the colours had melted into each other. The Pollock creation tasted wonderful despite the hot sun! Possibly a couple of glasses of chilled bubbly helped it go down. And now, with two grand daughters over one, I realise how time has whizzed. Ezra-Mae starts full-time school in September and had a taster morning at the village school this week. She loved it. Danielle loved it. As to getting organised for big school, Danielle needs a trailer for her bike so she can cycle the girls along the towpath come September. Failing that, perhaps Sophie's trailer would do! Just a thought. 

The weather has been over-the-top wonderful so I have been having breakfast in the garden this week. Danielle brought the girls over and we sat in the garden surrounded by wilting flowers, drinking coffee  - truly continental, except it was an English Breakfast. 

I even played a tennis match match in the hot sun this week. I am not match fit and still not totally over the op but the team were desperate. So desperate in fact that I got the call up. The match was at Riverside Tennis Club in Bedford. The last time I played there I had a Dunlop Maxply racquet, the balls were white, and I was a junior - just a few years ago! My tennis has gone downhill since the last time I was at that club and despite not coping with four sets, I really enjoyed myself and now I am raring to play again. For the record, I am willing to play with anyone willing to have me on their team. I see myself as being one of the Knights of Ni - playing to the death, despite bits dropping off me. Beat that for one-upmanship.