Spring/Summer Sunday Lunch

My Feathered Friend (see previous post) was over with her hubby for the weekend so that she could attend Saturday's hen party.  I first mentioned them here; they now live in London and are so happy together.   They truly are MFEO.

We met up with them and others for lunch on Sunday.

Lunch at a pub down by a pretty fisherman's harbour.

So I went casual.

My fave newish M&S jeans (so loving them!), Magasin linen mix top in ecru/blue stripe.  And brown Jones wedges!  Yes, I'm giving jeans and heels a whirl again.

And it's that time of the year, some days it's spring and some days it's summer; a confusing shoulder season.  I added a spring scarf, which came off as soon as I arrived at the pub.  Turns out it was summer on Sunday.  Hot summer.

I added a navy Alexon jacket too.  Yes, a spring jacket too.  Why did I not stick my nose out the back door to check the temperature before dressing?

No prizes for guessing what happened to that jacket too! 

And here's where I took this chilly spring weather outfit on a hot summer's day.

The Houmet Tavern

In the background, a Martello tower built during the Napoleonic wars.

My friends had done their homework (backdoor work) and were wearing weather-appropriate things, classic summer things like cool loose linen shirts, pretty sleeveless maxi dresses.  I tried to keep cool in my dressed-for-spring outfit.

A view from the tavern.

You can just make out our family church in the distance.

We enjoyed a nice lunch with lots of chat. 

Then my Feathered Friend flew away, back to London.

And then something amazing happened.

As I was leaving, a lady came up to me.  Mary?  she asked.  

Oh, this is finally happening, I quickly thought, a reader has recognised me.  I've made the big time.  I'm actually famous!

But no, it was an old friend I hadn't seen in 40 years and I hadn't recognised her as her signature long black hair was nowhere to be seen (and neither was my long blonde hair, come to think of it!).

Does that ever happen to you?  

Bumping into someone after sooo many years?

So we arranged to meet for a catch up soon.  How exciting is that?!  

Mind you, getting recognised by a reader would have been pretty bloomin' exciting too!!

And then, in parting, she said she remembered I used to "write everything down".  I smiled knowingly, smugly even,  that would have been my embryonic blogging self, The Pout in the making.  "Writing?" I asked, excitedly.  I probably wrote about the fabulous things I was up to, interesting observations, maybe even what I was wearing!

She replied "Yes, you used to write down everything you spent".

So, not so much The Pouting Pensioner in the making, more like Tight Pout in the making!

But it was something I hadn't remembered about me and I did find myself rather liking Younger Pout.   I'd like to be a bit more like her now - it would so help to keep tabs on my pensioner pennies!

Anyway, back to the plot, you will have noticed my restraint today.  A meal post, but no food shots.

Quick.  Go.  Before I change my mind!

A la perchoine

Nails and Tummy Pampering

Hello, dearies.  I gave you heads-up in the previous post that my nails were going to get some Sunday pampering ...

... and here they are, post-pamper.

 

When it comes to the world of manicured nails, I am a neophyte.  A newbie.

My severe gardening "breakages" turned out to be nothing more than lifting nail gel.  That is apparently what it does over time.  Never mind, the tea bag repair exercise was useful.

  I am now all tutti-fruitied up (that's the name of the shade), this time in shellac (there's a difference, though I don't what). 

My impromptu survey yesterday on my patio revealed that 3 out of 3 ladies of diverse ages had worn (2) or were wearing Tutti Fruiti shellac (1) on their nails.  How amazing is that?  I hit on a shade popular with the younger set, for 2 out of the 3 surveyed were some 25 years younger than your researcher of quantative behaviour, a.k.a. Nosy Pout!

Yes, my nails have again been dressed ready for photographs.

Here draped around a wine glass; and here, resting on a dahlia. 
I can almost forget that my fingers are old and arthritic when my nails are tutti-fruitied.

The spa was recommended by DIL.  So nails, done.  On a Sunday.  And that doesn't feel bad.

For the hidden dividend of a Sunday spa visit was that The Photographer popped his head into the salon to tell me he'd booked us in for lunch in the hotel's brasserie.  #didn'texpectthat!
(I'd dressed for a manicure - quick check, yup, reasonably presentable  but who's gonna check out my garb when I'm wearing the Tutti-Fruiti eye magnet?!)

So, the nails and their proud owner were here at The Old Government Hotel and Spa.

 

And they met TP here.



We ate early and the bistro was empty, I expect most want a proper lunch on a Sunday.  Never mind, it felt like we had staff!

The hotel is set in the centre of Town so had rooftop and sea views from the balconies.

I loved the décor of the conservatory and took away a few ideas for my humble abode. 

I did not take away this massive light fitting - I would have to move out to fit this into my conservatory!

Such a tastefully elegant place to eat.  And the added bonus is that piano music wafted softly in from the bar next door.   From the style of playing, I would guess it was a certain Mr Paul Tongs.

I drank coffee as I perused the menu.  Even a simple cup of coffee is served elegantly.



 My eyes wandered around the beautifully decorated conservatory as I menu-browsed.

But were drawn back to my tutti-fruities.  Enough of the nails, Pout!

OK, I'd pretty much made up my mind when I saw Lobster Roll was on the menu, but I perused elegantly anyway, just for show!  Have you become a fan of the Lobster Roll?

We didn't want a full-blown Sunday lunch in one of the hotel's several restaurants, preferring something from the "light" bite conservatory menu, more suited to our pensioner appetites.  A Lobster Roll fits the bill.

Surrounded by a sea of lobster, chips and wine.  How happy am I? 

And I was even happier when I got to the loos!

Yes, I am the sort of gal who takes a camera with her on loo visits. 



And I am the sorta gal who's so happy with the décor that she takes loo selfies.

I loved the fresh simplicity of this cupboard.  I kept returning to it for more shots.

Farewell, powder room!

Do you take photos of hotel and restaurant loos? I hope I'm not alone on this one.

A marble stairway down to the conveniences, with solid brass hand rails.  #loveoghloos

#Iloveoghlightfittings

So, black, gold and white décor.  How I adore that combo.

I finished my crisp sauvignon blanc in the sun on the terrace.

 

On the way back to the car, we stopped by the Police Station (it's OK I wasn't detained!), which is housed in the old Town Hospital, established nearly 300 years ago.

Oh, go on then, just one last Tutti-Fruiti shot, seeing as you've been such a good reader!

A la perchoine 



Sea Soothing Sunday

 

 

 

Let's chill today, peeps.  No grey cardi.  No clothes pics. 
Just pics taken when I was out walking last Sunday.

 Now. empty your mind of problems, politics and Pout.  No more words.  Just sea ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

... and a camper van.

 

A la perchoine.