Last week’s soaring heat was perfect for the bank holiday weekend.

The football

I was in a particularly good mood after travelling to Stoke on the Friday night for the football (staying in a Holiday Inn right by the ground with my son and his Dad) to see Crystal Palace win 2-1 on Saturday and secure our place in the Premier League. We were so happy that all our football worries were over! I was ready to relax and celebrate the rest of the weekend.

The friend

A friend came to stay on the Sunday and as it was so hot I fired up my dinky little portable barbecue and we sat outside in my tiny garden surrounded by blue flowers everywhere – alliums, forget-me-nots and bluebells. I lit candles and we listed to the birds singing as we caught up on our news – my friend was just back from a trip home to New Zealand (and Australia).

The food

We tucked into barbecue chicken, steak and sausages. I cooked chicken legs and thighs  in a delicious barbecue sauce and steak (using a Jamie Oliver marinade).  I made my version of a Greek salad (cucumber, cherry tomatoes, pitted kalamata olives, feta cheese and mint and dressed with kalamata olive oil). There was also potato salad (new boiled potatoes with mayonnaise and spring onions) and home made cole slaw (a mix of shredded red and white cabbage, carrots and red onions with half yoghourt half mayonnaise dressing).

I also threw quartered green peppers on the grill, with mini pittas.

But by far and away the most delicious part of the barbecue was some Sainsbury’s sausages (and this blog isn’t sponsored I should add – I wish) – these were made with pork, sweet potatoes, kidney beans and smoked paprika.

There was enough food left over to pack up for a picnic at Morden Hall Park the next day – a quick tram ride from my house (who wants to drive anywhere on a bank holiday Monday)? The park was teeming with people, with children and dogs paddling and swimming in the various streams. We found a quiet spot for our picnic by some water, under a shady tree.

A perfect weekend.