La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - on a tiny budget.

Nargleblast

That's a good idea, having a special grownups-only meal, once a week. It only takes a little time, effort and courage to try something new, and you have something that's restaurant quality at a fraction of the price.

For me it's going to be steak tomorrow, served on a bed of stirfried kale with avocado and maybe a few French fries on the side. I have found it's good to cook your steak and wrap it in  foil to keep warm whilst you cook the rest of the meal. A small steak will go a long way and look more than it is if you slice it thinly and scatter the pieces over dark green veg or salad. It also means you're not fighting to cut it up on the plate because the hard work has already been done.

Bluegreen143

@Nargleblast we don’t always have a separate dinner on date night - often we just have drinks and play cards once the kids are in bed - but the steak dinner was delicious tonight and I think we need to make the effort more often! Nice to have the night off cooking as DH cooked. He made an excellent flavoured butter with garlic and herbs to smother on my steak. 

Nargleblast

Yes, Bluegreen, you should definitely do it more often. We should all find little celebrations in our lives.

Wednesday2000

The decorator is back today so we have turned our bedroom into our living room by bringing in two armchairs, cushions and a little coffee table. We are going to binge watch a series on Prime while he paints downstairs.

I am feeling much better today which is a relief. I went outside to put some bottles into the recycling this morning and it felt like I haven't been outside in ages! I am going to make a nice dinner for us later and we might pop to Aldi tomorrow for a few bits and some fresh flowers. I was going to look in Aldi for beauty products too as I keep reading they are good.

helensbiggestfan

Hello My Lovely Friends. 

Wonderful Weekends. 

Thinking about the concept of weekends I am reminded of that scene in "Downton Abbey" where the Dowager Duchess (the Maggie Smith character) asks "What is a weekend", because, of course, as an aristo, she had never had to grapple with a working week and just two days of leisure,   

Now that I am retired I too feel like an aristo. Every day is a holiday and the days and weekends flow seemlessly, from one into the other.  But still, there remains that frisson of excitement when the weekend arrives.  And today is no exception.  I am looking forward to my weekend, especially as my family go home shortly and I get to reclaim my space. It's been lovely having them here but it will be equally lovely when they leave.  😂

Today would have been my 40th wedding anniversary, so it will be bittersweet.  I shall spend a quiet weekend, just pottering about.  I do need to a lot of straightening up and reorganising after having had my house turned upside down but I shall take my time.  I don't need to exhaust myself doing it all at once - as my husband used to say - "there's nothing spoiling". 

Have a Wonderful Weekend ❤️

Coxy11

Have a Wonderful Weekend @helensbiggestfan and enjoy having your house back 

angela110660

Wednesday 2000 mentioned a binge watch on Prime. I have watched all of Nolly with Helena Bonham Carter today about Noele Gordon - Meg Mortimer in Crossroads. Loved it.
Brought back memories of teatime telly many years ago! 

Nargleblast

That was one of my mum's favourite programmes, everyone had to be quiet when it was on.

Brambling

Nargleblast said:

That was one of my mum's favourite programmes, everyone had to be quiet when it was on.

Brings back childhood memories for me, tea had to be on the table and the TV on and my mum would time it to be sitting down when it started, it was the only time the TV was allowed to be on mealtimes 🙂 

sheilavw

Thinking of you today Helen on this anniversary day x

I celebrated my birthday on Thursday and have been spoilt with flowers, gifts, cards, and 2 meals out.

 Scary getting older, although I don't feel 61. Where does time go? Doesn't seem 2 minutes ago since my children were little ones.

Enjoy your weekend everyone x