bigfoodiemama

D Day had finally come. Having loved, lost and lamented numerous kittens over the years, I knew I needed to put a stop to production before we were over run with inbred mutant cats. The lovely Socky and Flowerpot were booked in to be neutered in the vets yesterday morning, with instruction to have them fasting from 9.00pm the night before. This was where the fun started. I had a cunning plan to let the two outdoor cats into the kitchen for some food, shut the door behind them, place a litter tray beside them and leave them in the kitchen overnight, ensuring their capture and fasting. GASP was having none of it. He reckoned they should be kept overnight in the shed declaring they would , without doubt, defecate in the house. " How dare you !" I exclaimed...my pussies are toilet trained and there is no way I can catch them in the morning in the shed. I declared that they were categorically staying in the house and GASP stated categorically they had to go into the utility room ...

It has been a week of reminiscing ! 20 years ago on May 29th I advised GASP he was dating me and decided I would marry him ! GASP ( Gorgeous, Adorable, Suffering and Patient) arrived innocently to a 29th birthday party No Longer Single and I held in our home at that time, a gate lodge of Slane Castle no less ! On New Years Eve that year we had committed to finding husbands and our 29th party happily coincided with my plan. GASP didn't stand a chance. I had met him on St Stephen's night for the first time, we were both sick early in the New Year ( him flu, me pneumonia) and by about Easter I had set my sights on him. I invited him , along with his two friends, to the party, and when he arrived with a bottle of Dry Martini ( my chosen tipple in the 90's) , a bottle of Chablis ( yes!) and a very large box of Milk Tray I knew I had chosen well. He was , apparently , completely unaware of my intentions ,being totally blind to me advances, and on arrival at the party remarked the...

The Ambassadrice and I , having seen the photo of the Double Dexter Burger at Shelbourne Social, decided to treat ourselves to a birthday evening out between our two May birth dates. Last Wednesday evening, after our days work, we met there in the hope the food photography and hype lived up to it's name. Oh it did ! On arrival my little foodie heart fluttered as I spotted none other than the man himself Dylan Mc Grath sitting inside the door...oh boy he is manly ! We were seated in the booth next to him ( somewhat distracting) but my mind was taken by one of my favourite odours...leather ! The tables were covered in leather, the chairs leather and the aprons hanging on the torsos of the waiting staff were suspended and bound by leather...my nostrils celebrated the unmistakable smell of hide ...Rrrrr! We settled down and relished every moment of what followed, the understated yet excellent service, the scallop, duck and sweet potato purée starter and the excellent Portugese red. Thi...

Last night The Mad One, The Spud Farmer, GASP and I journeyed to our home village of Slane to see the Hot House Flowers. I turned to GASP at one point advising him that this event was nothing short of perfection, out on a sunny Bank holiday Sunday , glass of cider in hand, live music, and good friends. I had last seen the Flowers while in the UK, some 25 years ago, when they were a perfect reminder of all things from home and the joyful madness of dancing all night. The Mad One and I happily let our middle aged bodies go with the music last night ( no...no one got injured !) and had a ball. Little Big Horn and his lovely Missus were also at the gig and as I walked past them I was greeted with a " Hello Bigfoodiemama" which made me smile and remind me that my alter ego has been in hiding and needed to re emerge from the wintery shadows. Alot has been going in in my world, and I am certainly aware that as I write this dear friends of mine are struggling with loss, ill health ...

Just after I started this blog 9 years ago on October 29th, I headed to my bed, my waters broke and right about now my second son arrived into the world, kicking and screaming....which he continued to do for about 2 and a half years. Last night he slept from 10.00 pm until 8.30 this morning....phew ! I am older, wiser ?? a bit less energetic but happy with my lot. We have had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend which involved a very good Italian ( dinner not lover ! ) in Rosso Carpaccio, where I lovingly gazed at GASP , listening to the strains of romantic music over an excellent Quatro Stagioni. The complimentary Limoncello brought me back to sunny days in Sorrento and Verona and I thoroughly enjoyed our rare date night. Of course, we spoke about the two boys and boring middle aged topics but at least we were alone to do so without FIFA 19 or Fortnite in the background. We headed to a 60th and enjoyed a few drinks with relatives and locals, the birthday boy ecstatic that his long awaited r...

Well, in the two and a half months since I last wrote a blog ALOT has happened...I got to experience some of life's ups and downs, transitions and traditions. Thankfully, after my Bad Day I have been well enough to survive all that was thrown in my direction and for that am very grateful. Eldest son moved to start secondary school at the end of August and the " helicopter" parent that I might just show signs of, found this to be quite a big event. I realised I was holding my breath in his first few weeks, was uptight about our new routines and commutes and didn't actually exhale until about 3 weeks in when I realised he was happy out , unfazed by the whole thing and we had easily slipped into our new habits...phew ! At the end of September, having exhaled, I delightedly took off to Carcassonne with the Blonde, No Longer Single, the Financial Advisor and the Queen of Baking for 3 days of giggles, rest, relaxation, food and wine. It was a perfect tonic and reminded us...

Yesterday, I should have listened to every bone in my Bank Holiday body and stayed in bed. Monday 6th August was my Friday 13th. I awoke, stiff sore and pissed off. I got out of bed and headed up to the sitting room where the 3 men in my life were slouched, surrounded by remnants of the previous nights snacks and already bickering over what to watch on the television...my images of one TV and a happy family disintegrating before me. I realised I was slightly hormonally challenged so sat outside with the cats muttering insanely to myself as I consumed my first Costa Tassimo coffee of the day. I must have appeared slightly demented when I gave out about the state of the sitting room as when I requested a second coffee my eldest son swiftly presented me with one adding (under his nearly teenager breath) that it was decaff as I had enough caffeine into my system. His father eyed him incredulously , his son being totally unaware of the imminent danger and advised him NEVER to give me decaff...