Easter eggs

I had a busy morning preparing for our Easter lunch. I set the alarm for 6.30 so that I could get the oven cranked up to its highest temperature then as soon as it reached that, I put in the shoulder of lamb and turned the oven down to 160. As we don’t usually buy meat, I was horrified to find it cost £52. However I expected the 4kg to feed 12.

Dennis and Mr C helped by moving chairs around. The families arrived by 12, minus Phil who had a cold, and Luke who was working. (They sent requests for doggy bags). The children decorated the hard-boiled eggs which we usually take to an area on the moor with what they call the rolly-pollies to have the annual egg rolling. This year that wasn’t possible as it rained heavily and consistently all day.

With the lamb we had roast potatoes, parsnips, peas and the best gravy ever - the rich lamb juices and red wine. Everyone enjoyed it apart from James who was too excited about the up-coming egg hunt to eat. Later in the afternoon he asked if he could have a bowl of muesli and yogurt which was fine by me - he just doesn’t seem to like meat either. I had done salmon for Nathaniel. Ella and Thomas ate it all and had seconds - the lamb just fell off the bone and was very tasty. I was surprised that there was so little left of the 4kg. Barely enough for the doggy bags. We had lemon drizzle cake and raspberries for pudding.

The daughters hid the chocolate eggs around the house and it took the children quite a while to find them all. Usually we’d do it in the garden. While the daughters caught up with Dennis the children played upstairs making dens in the airing cupboard. It was surprisingly chilled and peaceful.

This year, because of the awful weather, they sat on the sofa instead of the bench outside for the photo. Left to right - Nathaniel (10), James (9), Ella (12) and Thomas (11).