Monday 26 July 2010

Catching Up With Myself

Life seems to have been non-stop since I came back from holiday. Work deadines, family obligations, friends in need for all sorts of reasons, not to mention domestic trivia and various bits of socialising, have all conspired to fill every waking moment. I've felt hugely frustrated about the lack of time to get on with writing and studying, aka what I really want to do.

But in the last 36 hours, life has eased up. I had a lovely weekend in Oxford, staying with a dear friend who was on top form because she's just landed the job of her dreams. We celebrated on Saturday night at Jamie's Italian restaurant, pushing out every boat we could find. I know you like a good menu, so here it is. We started with prosecco (for me) and a Bellini (for her). Then we shared gorgeous huge green olives on cracked ice with tapenade and flatbread; a mixed veg starter (various titbits of perfect cheese, salad, and marinaded grilled veg); and fabulous polenta chips with rosemary and sea salt. We started a bottle of excellent Merlot with that lot, and finished it with prosciutto, pear and pecorino salad, with truffle chips, for her; char-grilled free-range chicken, garlic and parsley chips, and Swiss chard with garlic and capers for me. Then she had an affogato (vanilla ice-cream with a hot espresso poured over it - she asked for a decaff one) and I had a perfectly silky pannacotta with seasonal fruits (mostly strawberries, which was fine by me) and a glass of dessert rose wine. My friend asked for a sip, and then promptly demanded a glass for herself. After that we rolled gently back to hers, and finished the evening with her housemate, a bottle of fair-trade sparkling wine, some scrumptious goodies from Hotel Chocolat, and a Dennis The Menace board game.

I slept like a log, woke inspired, and wrote 1000 words before breakfast. Then another 1000 on the train home in the afternoon, and another 1000 this morning. Not only that, but I've made good progress with both my OU courses today, as well as meeting a work deadline and getting a few other jobs ticked off my list including subbing a short story. I love times like this! It's like the bit on the motorway where you've been stuck in the traffic jam for ages and suddenly it all frees up and you can zoom along at 70 mph again. (I could offer a more scatological analogy but, ever mindful that this is a family blog, I shall resist the temptation.)

12 comments:

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Oh my goodness that meal sounds delicious! A fantastic meal with a good friend and a loo-ong nap and you are right as rain!

HelenMWalters said...

I'm suffering food and wine envy. Well done on all the writing x

Cheryl said...

That meal sounds delicious. I just had spag bol and a curlywurly. Not quite the same thing ha ha!

Glad you found time to get writing.

Good luck with the shorty sub

Beleaguered Squirrel said...

Ooh, that all sounds wonderful! And not only am I pleased for you, I am pleased for me too, cos I suspect one of the many jobs you had to do was a favour to me, and I'm glad you're not feeling too knackered.

PS: You are ace. :O)

Carol said...

Oh my giddy aunt!! That meal sounds utterly wonderful and has actually made my mouth water and stomach rumble!!

Great to have you back in Blogland

*goes off to get something to eat*

C x

Talli Roland said...

Wow! Congrats on the food and the writing.

You have me salivating now over the food! I'm starving!

Anonymous said...

how lovely! on all counts. And I do rather like Jamie's Italian...

Elizabeth Bramwell said...

obviously good food and drink inspires your creativity, go forth and eat chocolate and drink while guilt-free, for you are feeding your muse, lol!

Pat said...

You're supposed to do the work first and THEN get the reward!
Still I can't begrudge you a bit of wallowing in epicurean luxury. Amazing what fun you can have on a veggie diet:)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Well done with the writing. I can't believe how busy it's been at my place for the past 8 weeks.

I wish I had some of that food to eat right now, instead of the dull pasta pesto I'm about to have.

Queenie said...

Thanks, everyone. And, Gemma - LOL!

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