Hello 2022!

After our late night (well, for us anyway!), it was a late start to 2022. After a couple of coffees, I cleaned out the fridge and threw away some old food lurking in there. It was much better to see what we had rather than a jumble of food!

I then gave the kitchen a thorough clean, and hoovered the house, but will leave a deep clean of the living room and conservatory until Wednesday, when we take the decorations down. As it was so mild, I also opened all the windows and let some fresh air in. Lovely!

Sophie was arriving at 3pm, and before we picked her up, we went to scout out somewhere where Keith could drop me and Sophie off at the Rugby on Sunday. Keith has decided he can't go, and he phoned Anthony on Friday to ask if Sophie could go in his place. 

Sophie arrived and had had a great time in Birmingham and London. She said that Zain had a bad cold which dampened their festivities a little bit, and as soon as she got home she did a lateral flow test, which was negative thank goodness. I am resigned to getting Covid at some point, as it's spreading so quickly, but we'll keep on taking tests two or three times a week to check!

We were looking forward to going out in the evening to The Saracen's Head at Little Brington - a meal out on New Year's Day is one tradition we like to keep! The drive over was dark and the roads were quiet. We noticed that The Althorp Coaching Inn was still closed, which is a real shame. I wonder if it will ever re-open?

The pub was busy with people drinking, but very few dining. We were seated in the quiet dining room and enjoyed big juicy prawns served with chorizo in a spicy sauce to start. Sophie and I shared a bottle of Chardonnay which went well with the sea bass we both ordered. The fish was served on a bed of gnocchi with pancetta, and the gnocchi defeated me! They reminded me of the potato dumplings we have had in Berlin!

I made room for a couple of scoops of ice cream but Keith and Sophie tucked away a chocolate brownie and apple crumble apiece! Phew! It was only 8.30pm when we finished and we were the only ones left eating. We waddled back to the car and made the dark journey back home. 

It was then heaven to don our nightwear and collapse on the sofa with BBC 4 and a music programme before bed!