Highlights from the weekend

Our excitement at the weekend didn't end with the casino trip. Oh no.



What we bought at the market this time

• Saturday am was the Good Living Growers Market. I avoided buying anything from the fudge stall (even though they had a new date cake to tempt me with, but it was too large!). However we managed to get some rhubarb, sweetcorn, bananas, dates (I almost missed the stall, I would have been sad), duck, snails (! with shells and tongs), French cakes (served by a lady with a French accent who had trouble adding up how much it cost, which added a certain, well we could say "je ne sais quoi", to the whole experience) and some cheese.


• Saturday afternoon we went to the Maritime Museum and saw: a 1970's Australian Gunboat, a submarine, a replica of Captain Cook's Endeavor and a display about Vikings. Walking round the boats gives you a feel for how claustrophobic it must have been to live on them (especially the sub). The Endeavor was manned by lots of helpful old Sea Dogs who were very knowledgeable about the ship and crew.


• On Saturday evening we found out that the duck was still frozen and so postponed our duck/snail extravaganza until Sunday and ordered take-away curry. I had fish curry and it was good.


• Sunday afternoon we went on a walk over the harbour bridge and back. Good views and I like walking. Unfortunately, to get Sean to agree to come I have had to promise to spend the same length of time that the walk took doing "Backgammon Study". We ran out of time on Sunday for this so this is still tbc.


• By Sunday evening the duck still wasn't defrosted so we had to go out disappointedly and buy some lamb. We ate the snails but couldn't put them in the oven as it was full of lamb and so didn't bother putting them in their shells. The were very unexciting. Next time they will definitely be going in the shells for the true snail experience.


• On Monday we got to eat the duck. It went in the oven for 4.5 hours and was spectacular. Next month we will have to remember that it takes ages to defrost, buy something else for eating at the weekend (they also had Guinea fowl and venison at the market) and have duck on Monday.