Amazing how little interest I have in the World Cup now we’ve been knocked out. Not that our defeat at the hands of the Portugese was a huge surprise – as soon as penalties loomed I could have placed a dead cert bet we wouldn’t get through. And don’t even talk to me about Wayne Rooney.

Actually I will, just for a little…guess what! My workmates saw Wayne and Colleen on the train from London today, and they got off at Macclesfield station (my local station), surrounded by paparazzi. How exciting!

And on to more interesting things…watching the footy in Scotland was a unique experience! In that we avoided being in a public place whilst wearing an England T-shirt! H and I spent last weekend in Edinburgh, excellently hosted by his lovely friends Dinah & Squid. We spent Sat night in their flat watching the footie – as the whistle went, we heard celebrations from the Scots in the pub across the road, and whilst watching out the window saw a local man emerge from the pub and shake the hand of a random man walking past wearing a Portugese scarf. We changed our shirts before we went out later to go kite flying (unsuccessfully – no wind).

Anyway, that was the footie. The rest of the weekend was great. A long drive up but worth it. Friday evening we went to a fab vegetarian restaurant called David Bann (www.davidbann.co.uk – you can see the menu there). It was one of those really imaginative places that doesn’t try to recreate meat dishes with veggies. It had good solid veggie food in its own right. I had Thai fritters for starters, then the Crepe Provencal which was beautiful. A lovely light soft pancake filled with what was essentially ratatouille but it wasn’t salty or watery, it was tasty and chunky, and full of flavour. And it wasn’t drowned in cheese, there was just a sprinkling inside to give it added depth of flavour. I was most distraught that I couldn’t finish it as I was so full! Although obviously I had room for two scoops of orange and one scoop of mango sorbet! Mmmm.

Saturday was spent in Edinburgh, walking around the park, and back streets to avoid tourists. The Cow Parade had come to town (www.cowparade.com), which is always fun. Highlights included a William Wallace/Braveheart cow on hind legs with a kilt, painted face and shield, and The Three Grazers outside the art gallery (mimicking the Three Graces marble statue inside the gallery which we went in to see – very funny). Oh, and one that had Jack Vettriano’s Singing Butler painted on one side of the cow, then a cow version of the same painting on the other side. Brilliant.

After a yummy bagel lunch at The Elephant and Bagel (www.elephant-house.co.uk/bagel) – lovely little place with lots of little elephants on a high shelf pointing to the door, lots of pics of elephants drawn by kids on the wall – we watched the footie (see above!).

Sunday was spent on the beach. It was so great to drive for 20-30 mins and find yourself on a beautiful sandy deserted beach. Can’t remember the name of the place, in East Lothian, but somewhere like Abergaldy or something. I’ll look it up later. We walked along the sand, picked up shells, marvelled at the jelly fish that looked like someone had got an ink pen and made wobbly purple splodges in the sand. And on the walk back to the car, the heavens started to rumble, and we saw the most enormous thunder storm in the distance. It was wonderful! Huge, low, heavy black clouds with rolling thunder and enormous spikes and sheets of lightening. Impressive!

I must also mention the excellent food provided by our lovely hosts (well, I am gastrogrrl, so how can I not!). They live near some fab delis and bakeries, so we had fresh bread each day, yummy scrambled egg for breakfast, and fruit and yoghurt, and pastries, and lightly fried fish and salad for tea. And oh yes, how can I forget the new drink of the moment – Magner’s cider with lots of ice. My new latest favourite drink, which I shall be testing at regular, refreshing intervals during the summer.

Cheers! x

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