Look into my eyes

You are hypnotised! Not the blip I was planning, but the opportunity presented itself.

Today marks 39 years since the wet day in Stratford-on-Avon when we got married. In what has become a tradition, we started the day by going to the covered market in Narbonne to buy steak from the excellent butcher, plus various items to accompany it.

Our jointly prepared lunch was 10/10 on the effort versus results scale: asparagus with hollandaise sauce, steak with gratin dauphinois bought from a traiteur in the market, and the remains of the hollandaise (yes I know béarnaise is traditional with steak, but I wasn't going to make both for one meal, even if I'd had enough butter to do so). And to finish, a pastis gascon with a filling of pears and armagnac, served with crème fraîche from Isigny (the best kind). We abstemiously drank tinto de verano with it, but the blanquette de Limoux has come out for the apero nibbles this evening (that and cava are the only fizzes that get house room chez nous).

Naturally Mystère got to partake of all the elements of our meal that suited him (steak and cream, not together).

PS well done Australia!