Chicory and hailstones

I did a bit of cooking on Saturday when Heather and Ewan came round for dinner. I made a chicken and fig tagine for the main course which I think turned out well, and a peach Melba knickerbocker glory for dessert which was fine if unremarkable. However I was particularly pleased with the very simple starter from the BBC Good Food website; a pink grapefruit, avocado, lime and chilli salsa served in a chicory leaf (or endive as I first knew them when I lived in France many years ago) It was tasty and healthy and looked good too. Hark at me singing my own praises - credit must also go to James for cutting up the grapefruit and removing all the pith which was rather fiddly. After dinner we relaxed in the lounge and I endeavoured to talk about how much we enjoyed Cabaret without any “spoilers” about how this production has been staged, because Heather and Ewan are going to see it in April. After our guests left James reproached me that I had kept revealing more and more details, oh dear, but I think he’s exaggerating. I’m sure that there is lots that I managed not to say! 

Today at the swimming pool it was raining quite heavily, which I don’t mind at all, but then it started to hail! It was quite painful as it battered against my head and face, but quite soon it turned back into rain and then the clouds rolled away and the sky became completely blue - all within forty-five minutes! That’s Scottish weather for you.