Debs Daily Deliberations 114 - ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

Evening All, Ollie slept in till 6am, wohooooooo what a treat for my anniversary - Tony had popped into work early for a couple of hours and I found my card propped up against the Kettle - he knows thats the first thing I do, have a cuppa (after a wee of course). Well, I could hardly read the words through the tears, somehow they really struck home and I got a tad morbid wondering how many more I will have........still a cuppa tea will sort me out. Tony came home and opened his card (we stopped doing pressies after the kids were born and money got less abundant), we kissed - if nothing else it freaks the kids out LOL and I went off for a lovely bubble bath (Champneys stuff my boss gave me for crimbo) and then spent hours doing my hair - ok ok I lied, it took me 10 mins to blowdry the back....its getting quite long and I "flick" it all upwards now, looks better with the hat on. Look for something semi-smart to wear my new grey and black Per Una top and black trousers, its supposed to be slimming you know! I dug out my black satin shoes with the chiffon ribbon ties, chucked on some makeup (unfortunately its getting near to the monthly visit of MN and my nose looks a bit red and blotchy - great) add my favourite perfume Compelling by Space NK and I am ready to go. Table is booked for 1pm but we leave just before midday and just as well, we pull off of our development and hit TRAFFIC, we live not far from the M11 and apparently two lanes were shut and both entrance and exit sliproads to the M25 junction were out of action......bloody cars everywhere! We head out through Sheering and the scenic route to Stansted Mountfitchet only to get caught up in more traffic behind a combine harvester doing 10MPH.....ok it might have been faster but didn't bloody feel like it. Now the rain started and we couldn't find the bloomin carpark!!! Which turned out to be a short walk away. This is not going well, go into the restaurant which is in a very old building, beams everywhere and wonky floors and stairs. We are seated upstairs and get given the menu's......ermmmm where's the tapas???? "Oh we stopped doing that 3 or 4 months ago"........oh :( your website still has the tapas menu on display......the manager comes up and asks me about the website saying he cancelled it ages ago! After my initial disappointment of no tapas (had been getting more and more excited all week) I re-evaluate the menu and make my choices: Mussels in Garlic and White Whine Sauce for starter - it was so delicious I almost asked for a spoon to drink the sauce, but my mothers face popped into my head and I decided that wasn't the done thing. I made the most of my bread and soaked up what I could. Tony had crayfish and tiger prawn cocktail, whilst squeezing the lemon over it....most of it ended up on the window - still I hear its good for cleaning anyway! Maincourse was roasted belly of pork, mustard mash (they must have read my dinner blog hehe), savoy cabbage with bacon in a cider reduction......it was delicious, the crackling was perfect and I left not a jot. Tony had some chicken and mushroom in a cream sauce with spinach and potato gratin....looked nice but mine looked better LOL Now for the best bit - well for me anyway - dessert, Caramelised Banana's with Creme Brulee, after raspberry pavlova - Creme Brulee is my next fave!!!!!! I just can't tell you how good the banana's were - SEX ON A FORK lol and the brulee didn't disappoint either. No bubbly just sparkling water, so we had bubbles! A thoroughly enjoyable meal and the young waiter who was a little nervous but very attentive seemed very reluctant to take a tip....but he did in the end. Anyone who has me on Facebook will see photos, Tony was most perterbed at me snapping my meals, but hey I wanted a reminder! Now we had to walk back to the car and I remembered why these shoes were buried at the back of the cupboard.....not good for walking in. We took a leisurely drive home and were greeted by some handwritten signs on our door and sidegate saying "happy anniversary", got in and Lara had blown balloons up and walked to Tesco's and bought us a cake with her own money = awwwwwww. She also made me blow out 17 candles LOL Not wanting much for tea, I've just taken delivery of Pizza's ordered via the internet (isn't it a wonderful thing) for the kids, we have spent the rest of the day having an "Indiana Jones" fest and the Crystal Skull is premiering tonight on the movie channel, so we are all set. Its been a wonderful anniversary and here's to many more. Thought for today: There is no feeling more comforting and consoling than knowing you are right next to the one you love. Author Unknown