I Am Only Making One Post Today,

although it is Tuesday I will be visiting Duncan, 

as Wednesday is Diana's day off and we will be going out, back to Monday, Diana arrived home from a all night work shift at 05.00 AM less than a couple of hours later I was up, after my exercises, shave, shower, posting the blog and breakfast I was out into a slightly grey day and walking into town, 

first stop the shoe repair shop on the bridge, one pair of black and one pair of brown laces and I was on my way,

walking past Beckenham green,

and the tricycle, 

and into Marks & Spencer's, I had a few things to pick up,

out of M & S the church nearly opposite, 

and back into the park, the wisteria on Foxgrove Lodge now past its best,

but the peonies looking like they will put on a good show shortly,

at the end of the side garden, 

a small rhododendron in full flower,

and putting on a good show,

back past the snail mail box and home, after my shave this morning I had finished my Joop after shave, 

so for the first time tomorrow I will start using a Christmas present from Diana, my favourite aftershave,

 sandalwood from Taylor of Old Bond Street, (if you are going to visit they are now at 74, Jermyn Street),

on the back of the box, "A true gentleman's discreetly fragranced cologne" hopefully that is me! after I arrived home in the afternoon, shortly after we were out, 

for our first picnic of the year, 

into a deserted park, unlike yesterday not a soul to be seen,

the natural woodland planted a few years ago looking nice as the trees are in leaf, 

no one on the benches at the rear of the mansion,

hardly anyone here, 

and just a few people in sight looking at the big oak, we made our way to the walled garden,

stopping on the way,

by a flowering rhododendron,

the flowers not as large as the ones we saw in Coombe Gardens, last week,

into a garden at the rear of what was the courtyard and stables,

the rose bushes here already in bloom,

and there was our bench, 

although not a drinking day, 

as it was our first picnic, 

out with the bubbly, 

for our picnic a selection of sandwiches, gala pie, potato salad and coleslaw, as well as a mixed fruit dessert, 

Diana's selection made, 

as was mine, 

then time for a few photographs, 

of all things,

of me!

the view in front of us in the walled garden,

and looking towards the courtyard,

our picnic finished we made a move for home,

past the lawn,

and these flowers, 

I am not sure if they are the black garlic (Allium nigrum L.) or the giant onion (Allium giganteum Regel), I will leave you to decide,

a look at a flower bed as we leave, 

and walk towards the mansion, 

and here is a little history of it, 

a pose by the snail mail box after which we will soon be home, in the evening we watched a couple of quiz shows and a Outback Opal Hunters before our evening film, for tonight,

The Remains of the Day, for some reason we had not watched the film before, now we have and what a treat it really was, great cast, acting, script and location, what was not to like! after which as Diana has another early start tomorrow, we were off to bed.

Lets Start The Day,

with another 'Merry Christmas!',

time for presents before we go to visit Steve and Kai,

I had bought Diana a second card for today, 

first to open, 

a pair of earbuds for Diana to listen to music,

a box of skin care products, 

plus a selection of premium coffee pods,

then the big one, 

a new bigger backpack,

to both of us from Lee and Sue a chocolate biscuit selection,

and from Diana my favourite aftershave, sandalwood from Taylor of Old Bond Street, (if you are going to visit they are now at 74, Jermyn Street),

I know what this is,

a checked shirt, also Diana bought me something I have wanted for so long but never got round to, a years subscription to Private Eye, a satirical magazine, it is edited by Ian Hislop, who we watch often as he is one of the two permanent team leaders in Have I Got News For You,

then glad rags on, 

and into a taxi,

to Steve and Kai's home,

and time for a few photographs,

by their Christmas tree, 

Ah!,

the girls, 

and of course a group photograph,

'Cheers!',

in the kitchen, 

where it was all going on, 

in no time Kai and Diana had laid a full table of starters, all of which were delicious, after a long break, 

it was time for our main course,

I decided to stay out of the way, 

Kai did the honours, 

and carved the turkey,

what a feast!

from all of us 'Cheers!', to a happy Christmas to all,

another one from myself as Steve and Kai prepared the cheese course, 

and what a selection,

regular readers might remember Steve buying the mature cheddar in the centre when we all visited Bath for the Christmas market,

the cheese was one of these, a Paxton's Cheddar Pounder, described as "a miniature cheddar, cloth bound and matured in Somerset caves with a nutty bite, earthy notes and a satisfyingly dense consistency", and nice it was too, 

out with the brandy,

and Christmas pudding, 

a great job by Steve to get it to lit, I normally have very little success at this, 

and time for presents, a selection of chocolate for Diana, 

for myself Steve thoughtfully bought a body warmer, it will be worn often! it was then time for us to make a move for our home, we both thanked Steve and Kai for a thoroughly enjoyable day, I hope ours tomorrow goes as well, arriving home a Midsomer Murder, a nightcap and we were off to bed.