The day began with so much healthy eating and then descended in to a pudding fest.

I made one of my favourite smoothies for breakfast; pineapple, blackberries, kiwi fruit, banana and fresh mint.

I had fewer blackberries than I wanted so I added some raspberries too. Delicious.  When you don’t add any liquid, the smoothie is thick like soft ice cream. I also made a batch of green juice with 3 apples, 5 sticks of celery, 1 cucumber, 2 carrots and a heap of kale. Not bad at all.  I had half late morning and took half to my sister’s in the overly optimistic expectation that I could drink this instead of over-eating! I snacked on some local cherries which are amazing.I made a Greek salad to take along as a contribution for lunch; tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, red pepper and mixed olives.  I added the feta cheese before serving. I was going to abstain from drinking but on arriving I was handed a glass of Pimms which was lovely. My lovely BILs. I had also brought along some pork rillettes and French bread which I was not going to eat but everyone raved about it so much I had to try it.  Then another and then another! My main course was very healthy; Greek salad, couscous with roasted vegetables, a green salad with a garlicky yellow split pea accompaniment and some corn on the cob.I enjoyed all this with a crisp white glass of Sauvignon Blanc.  This was a very delicious lunch.  There was a BBQ too but I was not in a meat mood so I just stuck to the veggies. There was no special occasion today other than an opportunity for me and my sisters to get together with our families.  Abi hosted today and she invited her lovely friends, Alison and Andrew who brought 2 of their children with them; Lydia and Kit.

My nephew Harry had made everyone a lemon cup cake which was delicious and he made his Aunties a pot of lemon curd each.  The cake and lemon curd were fantastic. Andrew brought a large batch of wicked chocolate, Crunchie and peanut bars.  I find them totally irresistible. He also brought a pecan and lemon cheesecake which I ate with another chocolate square. Abi made a fantastic pavlova which is probably my favourite pudding of all time and her meringue is amazing.  Crispy and chewy.  Just perfect.  So I had some with another chocolate square.  I even had one more chocolate square after that with a cuppa.  They are small but even so, that was total pudding piggery. Having gorged ourselves we sat and chatted and relaxed.  Well, I gorged myself, the others were probably much more restrained than I was. I love relaxed days like this as people mill around, inside and outside, swapping seats and by the end of the day, everyone has talked to everyone else.We didn’t want to leave but we had to.  Another busy week ahead for some of us.  Thank you Abi and Jim and all the chefs for a lovely day.

So, a day with lots of healthy foods but then a complete pig out with the puddings.  Why can’t I control myself?