A foodie day!

After a lie-in and a lazy morning, Sophie and I went to Market Harborough at midday. We'd booked a table at Pizza Express for lunch, so today was going to be very indulgent food-wise, as I was also going out this evening for a meal with Linda, Fiona and Andrea to celebrate Fiona's 60th birthday!

Before heading to the restaurant we popped into The Attic where Sophie bought a lovely skirt. It was a mixture of metallic colours and will look fabulous teamed with black tights and a top. She always manages to find some great bargains!

We were among the first at Pizza Express and took a table by the window.

The restaurant gradually filled up and became quite lively. We ordered our usual dishes of doppio doughballs, breaded halloumi bites, a large pizza to share and a couple of glasses of wine. We even ordered a dessert today, to round off the meal!

After we'd eaten we went into the jeweller's opposite where I asked about getting my rings re-sized. My fingers have indeed become bigger (it has been 30 years!), and we selected the right ring size and I handed mine over. Hopefully, I will get an estimate in a couple of weeks! We had a good look around the town and Sophie bought two more tops in a charity shop so she was very pleased. That's her work outfits sorted!

We decided to call it a day, but before going home we called into the Co-op at Brixworth to buy a bottle of Gin for Fiona. It was then home to relax and get ready for my evening out with the girls.

Fiona had booked a table at Miller and Carter but she'd asked us to go to her house first for a glass of fizz. Keith dropped me off while Sophie took care of the dinner at home. It was pouring with rain and cold, so not the best of nights to be out and about! Andrea was already there, and once Lynda had arrived we all went upstairs to Fiona's beautiful sitting room where there was a log fire burning. Fiona opened a bottle of Champagne and we sat around chatting. I managed to spill half my glass all over me and the carpet after missing the edge of the table (in my defence, it did slope downwards!).

Fiona's husband kindly gave us a lift to the restaurant and we passed through her new kitchen to get to the garage. Her kitchen looked beautiful and they'd had double doors and windows put into the very end so it was like a conservatory.

The restaurant was very busy and we were led to a table straight away. Fiona had received an email offering a glass of fizz to each of us, but at first, the waiter said we couldn't use it as it had expired the day before... another hopeless case of bad customer service! The girls ordered Porn Star Martinis while I stuck to a glass of wine!

Andrea and cocktail!

Fiona and Lynda

The withdrawal of the offer of fizz had annoyed us all, so when the waiter reappeared, Lynda asked him to re-consider as the meal this evening was not going to be cheap! The management obliged so we all received a glass of Prosecco after our aperitifs!

It took us a little while to choose our meals - I started with the Chipotle chicken and then had a black Aberdeen Sirloin steak for my main course.

We all chose steaks and even found room for a mini-pud afterwards with cocktails! I had a panna cotta served with a Strawberry Daiquiri. With the drinks beforehand, the meals, desserts and a bottle of Malbec, the bill was a hefty £267, but Fiona paid £100 towards her meal and the drinks as it was her birthday treat. This was more expensive than last time!

Keith and Sophie arrived to take me home and we sat with Lynda for a couple of minutes until her taxi arrived. When we got home we relaxed for a short while before bed! What an indulgent day!