We’ve had another busy weekend in the Doré household. (Long may that last I say).
As a surprise for Chris I secretly arranged for Sam, Milly and Zak to come up to stay.
I had also arranged a post birthday, birthday brunch for him, he has a December birthday you see, so I couldn’t get everyone together as December is a crazy busy month, with work do’s and family gatherings abound, besides we were skiing in Austria for Chris’s actual birthday.
Therefore a January gathering seemed the best plan. Besides, January is one of those months where everyone is a bit flat after the elation of Christmas.
Sam, Milly and Zak arrived on Friday afternoon, we hid their car in our garage and waited for Chris to come home from work, funnily enough it was a tad more rushed than we expected as Chris’s meeting had finished earlier than expected. Sam was only about 10 minutes ahead of him on the same motorways Chris was driving home on.
It was a wonderful surprise for him. Now I might simply be a boastful nana but my goodness me that grandson of mine lights up the room.
He is truly scrumptious!
Saturday was the brunch day, I had made some considerable extra effort (not because I’m nice or anything but Chris is such a one off, such an incredible human being, always putting everyone before himself I felt compelled (obliged more like it but one’s not meant to admit such selfish thoughts are they hahahahaha) to put on a lovely spread in his honour.
I went to the butchers and bought a salt beef and a gammon joint. I appreciate they’re not usually bed fellows but I had a plan in mind.
I cooked both to perfection, that’s going to sound like a weird boast and it will come as a surprise to most of my friends, mainly because I am a terrible cook, dreadful, I overcook and burn most things. I have a germ phobia (or fetish, no idea what it’s actually classified as. But germ issues and cooking are not great companions.
But I felt it only right to follow the instructions given by the butcher to a tee. Seeing as this was a special occasion.
Now choosing an outfit for a casual brunch with friends at home is going to be the easiest choose ever! Firstly I’m with friends, secondly I’m at home and can change my bag, or outfit come to that any time I want or need to.
I often advise people who want to get back into socialising after ostomy surgery to have dinner parties at home first. Adjust to having a bag by taking the pressure off of yourself. Leaks, though awful are far less impactful at home.
Shirt from Ralph Lauren, Trousers from Micheal Kors, Shoes from Gucci.
This is the perfect fooding outfit, both the shirt and trousers are made of soft stretchy fabric. It looks great (in my opinion and let’s face it, it’s the only one that should actually count. Hahahahaha). And it’s super soft and comfortable.
Dresses are hands down the best things to wear to eat in, but a very good second is a stretchy trouser.
Whilst I boiled my salt beef and roasted my gammon I took Zak to see his Christmas garden that I’m growing for him. I have a big garden and very little inclination to do anything with it. But planting a garden for Zak has awoken a sense of joy in being out there and tending to plants. I still hate weeding but at least I’m enjoying being out there, baby steps people, baby steps. Hahahahaha
The house was full of some of our favourite people, and babies, as well as Zak, Kim came with the twins, they were their usual hilarious selves.
I bought artisan bagels and the saltiest butter I can get hold of, lots of fruit and olives and cheeses and chocolates. It was a good spread, even if I do say so myself.
One of the reasons I don’t cook meat correctly is because I don’t eat the stuff, I think it’s a very tricky task to pull off if you’ve no intention of eating it.
I happily munched bagels and cream cheese while the others tucked in.
They were raving over my salt beef, but really they have the butcher to thank for that rather than me. I just did what I was told for once (a miracle in itself! Hahahahaha).
We were all full to bursting point after getting through all that, but I was not in pain in my guts like I usually would be. Nor were two other people at the brunch who coincidentally are both eating the seed mix I’ve been banging on about - D Mix.
Can this be simply coincidence? I don’t think so. I have been taking D mix after every meal for 7-8 weeks now, so have James and Tanya, and they both have said how much better they feel, how less bloated they are and generally feeling in fine gut health.
We all bought it at the same time at the Christmas food fair in London. I’ve been feeling fabulous since I started it.
I’m even sleeping better, which I imagine is to do with the fact my bowels are less gripey, which means my sleep isn’t being interrupted by nagging belly ache.
I was thinking about all the positives that have come from taking it the other day and decided to get in touch with the makers of D Mix to say how pleased I am with the product and how it’s nothing short of life changing to be gut ache free (sound over dramatic to you? Walk a mile with my old guts and then tell me that!).
Anyway I got a lovely email in response, and this, this is very exciting, the lovely lady at D mix created a voucher code for me and you, my Gladrags and bags readers to use as a thank you for my glowing praise of the stuff!
I’ve only just stocked up but I’m going to get some more because the discount is so worth having. I’m really very grateful and touched that my email would have had such a generous response.
If you wanted to take advantage of the offer, simply go to Sugar Vida’s website below and use voucher code;
GLADRAGS15
at wholebeinghealthfoods.com
For 15% off.
I don’t get anything from your purchase, I’m simply passing on my good fortune in finding something that works for me, my friends and now my mum too.
Follow the link in my Instagram or Facebook posts.
Brunch finished about 5, yep, this lot can sure eat, that’s why we’re such good friends. Hahahahaha
Then Saturday evening was spent with some more friends coming over. My best friend Michelle, her husband, and her daughter, Elle popped over. We had such a lovely time. If felt really homely and reminiscent of days gone by when we used to get together for our children to play. Now here we were 23 years later watching Zak play.
When I told Ben that evening that Sugar Vida had created a voucher code for me and my readers he cracked up, he said “mum’s got a brand deal!” :)
It’s not a brand deal, I don’t get any money from it, apart from saving 15% off my purchases, same as you can. That said, if anyone from Sugar Vida is reading this I’d be delighted to be the “Face of happy bowels”! :)
Sunday morning began by being greeted by a beaming Zak, is there anything better than seeing your child’s creation?
He’s such a sweet boy. He makes my heart so happy.
We decided to go out for breakfast, Sam, Milly and Zak have a long drive home so we thought it best to send them off full.
Is it any wonder I’m overweight? My happiest times seem to come from eating and feeding people. :)
Food and friends = joy.
Jacket from Belstaff, Top from Next, leggings from Tesco, Shoes from Gucci, Bag from Louis Vuitton.
What a wonderful way to start the day. Zak was an absolute dream in the restaurant. I think it’s really important to get children used to eating out when young, I think Sam was about 2 weeks old when we started going to restaurants. Believe me it wasn’t an easy task as he was so colicky and screamy (I’m beyond pleased for them that Zak didn’t inherit that from his father).
But from a very young age my boys knew how to behave in restaurants. It’s a valuable life skill.
Once fed, they hit the road and headed home and my heart hurt a bit from saying goodbye again.
I know they only live two and a half hours away but it just feels so far.
And on the subject of breaking hearts and living far away, I come to the latest triumph of the Doré family.
Our youngest son Ben, finally completed on the flat he’s bought. He is now officially a grown up and has the mortgage to prove it!
I’m so pleased for him, so proud of him, it took a lot of hard work, some difficult decisions and sheer will power to pull it off.
He’s 21 and on his way up the property ladder.
And that leaves me with an empty nest. Yay for Ben…booohooo for me. Hahahahaha Technically Ben’s flat isn’t far away, it takes me about 16 minutes to cycle there down a footpath near my house, that leads directly to his home, but anywhere that isn’t here with me feels like farrrrrrrr.
I love a full house, I’m now regretting not having loads more kids.
It’s now just me and Chris and the dog.
I’ve been mothering since I was 23, I just never really gave a thought to the end of that career. Especially in this day and age of kids living at home till their 35.
I can’t work out if I’ve done something right and brought up two very strong, independent men or if I did something very wrong and they simply just couldn’t wait to get away from me. Hahahahaha
I’m going to choose to believe the first of those ponderings. ;)
Anyway, Ben’s flat is incredible! 2 bed, 2 bath, vaulted ceiling to the living room and massive walk in wardrobe that Carrie Bradshaw would have been proud of. As a starter home it’s a dream (and before you suggest it, yes, I’ve already tried to persuade Chris to sell up and buy one next to Ben).
Strangely, I’ve brought my boys up to be independent but I haven’t brought me up to be! Hahahahaha
So that’s it, I’m a 46 year old, used to be a stay at home mum, retired off at her peak! In her prime!
Thankfully Chris is a full time job to look after so I shan’t be at a loose end too much. I’m the image of a 1950’s house wife (only I can’t cook and I choose not to do my own cleaning). Hahahahaha
And now to stave off the sadness of my now empty nest (God, I’m milking this for all it’s worth aren’t I!). I’ve booked myself into a pottery class later in the spring.
It’s hilarious, I have literally no fine motor skills, I’m dyspraxic, which means for me personally I’m very clumsy and incredibly cack handed, but I really fancied using a potters wheel. I have these grand thoughts that I’ll be making beautiful vases but I have a feeling I won’t get any further than a very shallow ash tray! Hahahahaha
We went round for a celebratory first night meal.
Don’t worry, he has got furniture, we’ll be doing the hard bit later this week.
*As a side note I’d just like to add, that Ben didn’t thrive through school, he was utterly under supported for his dyslexia and dyspraxia. And I’d say he was actually cruelly hindered by some teachers ~ and certainly not supported by others through his brother and mother’s cancer treatments.
And yet, he started working at 17 and has slogged his way up, and at 21 realised the dream of home ownership, something he has been determined to do since he was 18.
We are not what others think us to be, we are what we decide.