Great to see Cork coming back to life
Isn’t it wonderful to see Cork awakening again this December?
We have no idea what January brings but currently, restaurants are open again and friends can meet for a cheeky brunch or a lovely dinner. The Square Table in Blarney was booked out the first weekend they opened – proof how much we missed being able to go out.
The latest addition to Cork, The Dean Hotel with its roof terrace bar and restaurant, Sophie’s is already booked out for the month – we all love shiny new things, don’t we?
We are still not able to have friends over until later in the month – this is what I miss mostly as this would be the time I treat friends and family at home.
I miss the preparations of deciding what to cook, how to present the food and who to invite when. Then the relaxed afternoon or evening, having everyone around, sipping a glass of wine or mulled cider or even just a good cup of tea and catching up with friends before the big day.
From the 18th onwards, I might be able to invite a few people but being so close to Christmas Day, everyone will be busy.
Who could have thought that something that happened back at the start of the year, will still have an impact in December?
Last Sunday, two friends of mine and I had a group chat on Facebook – something we have never done before. Under normal circumstances, we would have met for a crafting afternoon already and have booked our afternoon tea treat or Christmas lunch meeting.
Anyhow, this year I received two advent calendars. One from the wonderful Mr T – it’s a 3D one, with windows and doors resembling a house. The other one from my lovely friend Sally – it’s a pop up calendar in the form of a village. Both have delicious chocolate in them and every morning I turn into the little child that can’t wait to start the day with a piece of chocolate!
The first mince pies have been baked and eaten already, Mr T tasted the first of the two cakes I baked (remember the dense cake drama I wrote about a few weeks ago) and it got the thumbs up (marriage save again) and the tree has been decorated.
Christmas time has officially started in The Cottage. The discussion has now moved to what to eat on Christmas Day.
This is the fourth year that we are on our own with no guests and so far, we had pheasant the first year and turkey the second and third year.
I pointed out that I don’t like turkey and that Mr T will be eating the bird for eternity afterwards and he agreed. You need to know that although it is just the two of us – we do the Full Monty kind of Christmas dinner with spiced beef, ham, the bird, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, brussel sprouts, red cabbage, gravy and of course dessert.
And yes, we are comatose afterwards in front of the telly! And like everyone else, we think we couldn’t possibly eat anymore – and within an hour of the dinner, you can see us nibbling away on other treats.
So far, we were even considering a chicken for dinner – I’ll keep you posted.