Mince Pies in a Pear Tree

Mince pies have become a daily feature of our Christmas event. Elevenses of coffee is accompanied by a warmed pastry to invite the Christmas cheer deep into our hearts. These sweet offerings are best avoided at all other impromptu times whilst out visiting especially as there are no vaccinations against botulism.

Food poisoning aside, I have successfully presented four partridges to the table in a casserole of delightful proportions. First browned then roasted briefly followed by one hour of a vegetable bath in onions, carrots, swede, leeks and parsnip their sweet meat just fell off their tiny carcasses; giving themselves up to the pre-Christmas gathering of Ashmores planning strategy for the event that is Christmas.

The starter was an experimental Camembert that was performed with great dexterity and skill as a whole cheese was melted in a puff pastry container with cranberries and walnuts. Creme brulee, a particular favourite, was the finishing touch to the dining experience. Having got the cheese course out of the way early there was no need to include extra cheese at the end and Robin and his brother, joined by new-commer Matt, began on their whiskey tasting event of 2009.

The following day was snow bound as we rested on our day off. Matt supplied dvd entertainment of Star Trek with full cinema sound from the hi-fi speakers. Our veg and fruit boxes arrived with organic fare and a gift of one satsuma with foliage was given as a gift to a card bearing well wisher braving the snow to deliver cards and cheer.

Tuesday, and the gallery is open for business as usual with customers flocking in very small numbers to collect framing and look for those last minute presents. Matt decided that he would venture into town to collect 'something' from John Lewis. He made this decision at 10am and asked me to accompany him. Had I known the day before we could have planned the shopping event with military precision, however by the time he was showered, fed and coffeed we set off at 11am into traffic that was queing for town from the very top of Ecclesall Road. Ten minutes later we decided that a focussed attack on Wednesday would be vastly more productive that sitting in traffic for an hour and, since I needed the tiolet, we made a u-turn and returned home to coffee and a mince pie.