Today We Are Out,

to visit Steve and Kai,

and as Diana ordered tickets for the Antiques Roadshow, I am only making one post today, so as soon as I post this will will be on our way to Crystal Palace, back to Saturday, Diana was on early shift and had arranged with Kai to pop round to see her as soon as she finished work, so I was off into a nice warm day to walk to Steve and Kai's,

the chestnut trees on the way in full flower,

as were the roadside rhododendrons,

putting on a really good show,

and some still to fully flower,

past the river in Cator Park, 

arriving at Steve and Kai's home Kai was already busy in the back garden,

I had a look at the vegetables Steve and Kai are growing for this year,

as well as strawberries, 

Steve and Kai had already had one crop from them, 

the rhubarb already cropped once this year as well,

one of Steve's bee hives,

already bringing pollen and nectar, 

into their home, 

I made a short and sometimes out of focus video of them at work,

Diana took a few photographs of the strawberries,

along with Steve and Kai,

Diana was like myself fascinated by the bees,

meanwhile Kai was getting the table ready,

time to relax!

before starting to crop some of the produce, 

all set now with the bubbly,

today Steve and Kai are preparing a soup and cooking on this grill,

 prawns, pork belly's, fish, chicken kebabs and dogs to start, 

I forgot the lamb kebabs,

lots of fresh vegetables and sauces,

Steve takes a break, they both work so hard on their garden,

time for the girls to have a cocktail,

'Cheers!',

all looking good,

time to relax,

 

I had a look at the strawberries, lots for the next few weeks,

and under the leaves,

plenty for today,

Diana and Kai started to pick some,

like these,

and take a few photographs,

Diana helping Kai,

meanwhile the bees were also working,

Steve next to his new hive,

and here are the strawberries,

the plants are now 2 years old and are starting to have way more fruit than last year,

all set,

let the cooking commence!

carefully turn,

easy does it, we all ate until we were bursting,

and then there was the pork bellies,

all so delicious,

as was the soup that had been cooking next to the grill,

we had a few visitors, a magpie,

and a crow called by,

looking up it was a clear blue sky,

time for the cream,

so out with the blender,

Diana was in charge of that operation,

meanwhile I was joined by Captain Morgan,

and Buddy,

cream thoroughly whipped,

it was time to eat them,

Steve and myself relaxed in the loungers,

before it was time for the gardens evening watering for Steve, what a wonderful afternoon/evening, many, many thanks to Steve and Kai for inviting us round, we said our goodbyes and made a move for home where it was feet up for a Midsomer Murder before we were off to bed.