Tawny Mining-bee

Another mostly home-based day preparing for the last of Pete's birthday meals. Although it was sunny there was a cool breeze, but for the first time this year there were quite a few Tawny Mining-bees around, hunting for nesting sites in the bare soil of the flower-beds and feeding on the Gooseberry flowers.

I spent much of the day cooking - assembling a Moussaka using one of the remaining packs of conservation lamb mince that I'd bought last November and finishing off a Rhubarb Trifle - one of Yottam Ottolenghi's recipes.  

Sarah and Ben joined us at six, and we waited for our J and E to pop in for drinks, as had been agreed, They didn't turn up so after an hour or so we decided to get on with the meal, which was delicious and well worth the slaving over a hot stove! The trifle was particularly good luscious but with a nicely sharp edge that stopped it being cloying. 

Just as we'd finished we heard the doorbell and J & E turned up. We had a very jolly time with them - I think it was  welcome break from reality. Although P's passing was very sad, the family are determined to celebrate his life and I'm sure J is looking forward to having her freedom back.