How Sundays are meant to be

We had an amazing day today. John had suggested earlier in the week that we invite the family round for lunch, so I was game. Then he said, “Let’s invite them for brunch about 10.30-ish for bacon butties and do lunch mid-afternoon.” So I put the proposal to the gang and they were all up for it – including Andrew who drove over from Cambridge, much to my delight.

What a cracking day we had. Everyone arrived about 11.30 in the end, and snapped up the bacon and egg rolls we’d got on offer. “Any seconds?” they wanted to know. Of course, there were seconds – and thirds if you wanted it. Harriet made a big pot of tea to go with them; Paul was my ‘wing man’ taking over the cooking of eggs so that I could eat mine; and we all chattered happily in the kitchen milling around eating our brunch. It was marvellous. Wonderful. Brilliant.

For ‘lunch’ – which was planned for about 4 o’clock – we had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. “I can make the Yorkshire pudding,” Lily piped up, as I started thinking about making the batter. “She makes the best Yorkshire puddings ever,” said Paul. And he was right. Gosh they were good. Not only was she involved with those, but also the cauliflower cheese. She knew how to make a béchamel sauce, Andrew helped, and the final dish was delicious. Another good cook in the family – what a blessing.

I had such a good day today that I didn’t have time to get the camera out. We were so busy cooking and chatting that I don’t have any photos to show for it, but I have had a very nice top-up of happy stuff today: listening to Harriet and Danielle chatting together; hearing Paul, Michael and Andrew reminiscing and planning ahead for some time together; watching the children playing and giggling, making potions, helping to make the pudding, ‘washing up’ and so on. Yep, all good.

John enjoyed himself too, but was interrupted in the enjoyment just as it was about to start. On the doorstep, arriving at the same time as the family, was the Community Nurse. The dogs greeted her very loudly, and John ushered her into the dining room for a chat, so disappointingly, he missed the excitement of the early arrivals.

John was the main man with preparing the breakfast until the Nurse arrived, and after that he was increasingly tired. No afternoon nap for him today with the family around. He managed to watch the first half of the rugby while we cooked the meal, and then the second half after the meal, so he was happy on that count because England won. Hurrah! Mind you, it was against Italy, so we were expected to win, but the team defended well and kept a clean sheet.

It wasn’t long after everyone left that John thought he’d take himself off to bed. He was worn out – he’d played with the children, he’d expended energy on watching the rugby and prepped food, so was exhausted. I was tired too, but I decided to catch up Dancing on Ice and watch a bit of telly.

What a day. It was so delightful to have the family here, after all the distancing. I do hope we can do it again and again. This is how Sundays are meant to be, aren’t they? Family time.

Take care everyone. God bless.

41,270 people tested positive for the virus today; 52 were recorded as having died; and 1,395 people were admitted to hospital.