<p><a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4726" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cleethorpes-pierjan18-200x150.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" /></a>On New Year's Eve the Market Rasen contingent of the family went to The Olive. The food (hot and cold buffet) was good although we didn't have a table to sit at and had to perch around a large coffee table to eat. Dave, Lucie and I managed to consume three bottles of wine which probably wasn't a good idea and Nick &amp; Val were more sensible. New Year's Day I awoke with a heavy head after attempting to drown my sorrows and so I went with Dave and Lucie to Cleethorpes for a walk along the shore before enjoying the delights of a sausage bap with lashings of HP sauce. This proved to be a cure-all in terms of heavy head and low mood however I'm not sure it did too much for my weight or arteries.</p>
<p>I had some excellent Christmas presents from Mary and they almost made up for us not being together on Christmas Day. I've always wanted an arab style scarf and the print was one I had commented on at the Ropery Gallery in Barton Upon Humber.</p>
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<p><a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/advocate-armsjan19.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-5438" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/advocate-armsjan19.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="160" /></a>At the weekend it was the first anniversary of Mary and I meeting on our very first date. We celebrated by having dinner at the Advocate Arms in Market Rasen. It is the best restaurant in the town but that isn't saying a great deal. Nonetheless it was an enjoyable evening with plenty of talk about our adventures, the highs and lows of the past twelve months.</p>
<p>We fitted in a walk from the house on Sunday where we encountered funghi of various types and a delightful sunset.</p>
<p>[gallery type="rectangular" ids="5432,5431,5437"]</p>
<p><a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/seanwebsterjan19.jpg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-5436 size-thumbnail" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/seanwebsterjan19-200x165.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="165" /></a>Sunday evening was spent at the Hope Tavern watch the <a href="https://youtu.be/Lw8614jdgx0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sean Webster Band</a>. It was very crowded and we were in two minds as to whether to stay but I'm glad we did because the band was excellent.</p>
<p>They received a standing ovation and Dave and I went halves on a CD (last of the big spenders)</p>
<p>If you have watched the YouTube video above you may notice that the bass player looks uncannily like Stuart Copeland (Police).</p>
<p><a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/roast-leg-of-lamb-with-basil-mint-pesto.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-5435 size-thumbnail" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/roast-leg-of-lamb-with-basil-mint-pesto-200x182.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="182" /></a>Mary and I finished the evening off by testing a lamb and pesto recipe that we will be doing for Graham's 70th birthday in just over a week's time.</p>
<p>We work well together in the kitchen. Mary has a vast knowledge of cooking but it was my first time of making pesto from scratch. We had a lot of fun, helped along with a glass of red wine or two. The lamb, from a local butcher, was beautifully cooked and was delicious. We hope our birthday family group will appreciate it.</p>