Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 February 2008 20:49:10
That'll teach me - in future remember to ask the question that's hovering at the back of your mind, Smudgie, instead of simply taking things for granted.
It will be strange this year - my eldest will not be at home for Mothers' Day. He goes back to school tomorrow. I shall miss him as we've had a lovely week together and I really like (as well as love) my growing-up young man when he's in the mood he's been in this holiday. He's been amazingly organised too - and I happen to know that for the first time ever he's independently arranged a gift for me for Mothers' Day and made sure that my friend, Honorary Auntie M, knows where it is so that I get it on the day. Of course, I know nothing of this - it is a secret.
As he won't be here next week, and as M and I are both preaching and will be rather busy on Sunday, I decided that we would go out for a special meal today instead. We took M with us as she fills a large part of the gap that my mother left - my mum and I were incredibly good friends as well as mother and daughter - and she has no children of her own. And I decided we'd try out somewhere new.
There's a new hotel opened in what used to be a nursing home in Albert Cottage, in the Osborne House estate. The building itself was once the home of Princess Beatrice (the daughter of Queen Victoria, don't you know), although the approach isn't quite as luxurious as I was expecting. It is now a training establishment - run in conjunction with the college to provide a working environment for those training for the catering trade. I'd heard someone talking about meals there - a cream tea at just under £4 which seemed quite reasonable, so I didn't ask the other question.....
The meal was delicious (although my lamb was rather tough, much to my surprise).
Absolutely delicious.
The atmosphere was delightful and the service excellent.
But I should have asked when I rang up to book, shouldn't I? I really should....
It's a good job I'd taken my credit card!
But I'm worth it.