Of pig-dogs and premature celebrations

Right. Your starter for 10. I want you to look at the photo I took this morning of the damp wall of our church - I swear I waited till the service was over before I took it - because I'd become fascinated by the patterns made by the moisture that seeps into the plasterwork in this old, whinstone building. Do you see them? The two animal faces keeping a watch, as it happens, on the organist (Himself, no less). I thought at first "pigs", but now I'm seeing more canine ... what do you see? 

We didn't linger quite as long as usual today - I was chilled to the bone, sitting close to these damp critters during the service, for a start, and we had plans. I'd decided to have a minor celebration of my birthday a day early, as tomorrow is going to be busy with stuff, and having clocked a cake in the bag of presents #1 son brought with him last week I took it with me to meet up with Di and Rob and go to The Blairmore for lunch, followed by cake and tea back at Di's. (We did this last year, when my birthday fell on a Sunday.) We all ate different things (me - black pudding and goat's cheese stack on a toasted muffin) and talked for Scotland and met no fewer than four former colleagues whom we've not seen for ages - years, even. All these surprisingly old people ...

Di and I walked back to her house to open up some room for cake; the chaps seemed to manage fine despite going in the car. More chat, and the most chocolatey cake I've eaten in a long time. (Thank you Mary and Neil!) By the time we left it was ... well, tea-time, and we didn't feel we could eat another thing. The pair of us went a short walk when we got home, round the west bay in a chilly wind and back via Morrison's for the local paper and some CoffeeMate. 

Any thought of an evening meal vanished, and we sat down to a dish of cashew nuts and a glass of wine before watching more of the crazy train drama. I'll try to re-set my eating tomorrow when I'm old enough to be sensible. 

You think?