A Surprise Visit
If I thought keeping certain aspects of Mr Piglet’s actual birthday DAY a surprise, nothing prepared me for the WhatsApp message I received from our daughter (who lives in France), asking if it was okay to drop in for a surprise visit for a couple of days. I knew it would be the icing AND the cherry on top of his already special birthday cake, and it was. She arrived Sunday lunchtime, and I arranged for her to meet us in a bar in Lagos. When she tapped Mr P on the shoulder and said, ‘Fancy seeing you here,’ I thought he was going to have a heart attack! We had a great couple of days and ate out to save cooking. The weather was kind-ish (it didn’t rain), which meant we could enjoy lunch at the cafe on the wild Praia da Amoriera and later take a walk on the clifftop. Quality time with family is priceless.



Quiz Night
On Tuesday, we went to a supper and quiz night. The theme: Serengeti. We studied many fascinating facts about the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, only to discover that the majority of the questions were about Kenya. Um … who knew? There you go. On a positive note, the acquisition of knowledge helps expand the mind.
New Local Garden Centre
Finally, a local gardener spotted a gap in the market and opened a small garden centre. And I mean small. Keen to support them, I dragged Mr Piglet along and bought another Bromiad? I don’t know what type it is other than it lives outside, which is great! The plant was potbound so I divided it in four.

A New Kind of Crazy
I’ve lost the plot. I try not to watch the news, but I am curious to know what vitriol will spew out of the orange feller’s mouth next. If I hadn’t watched some of the rhetoric about Ukraine on TV with my own eyes, I’d laugh hysterically that this was fake news instead. I’m speeeeechless. Is this guy for real?
Belated Valentine’s Meal
Having decided to delay Valentine’s Day by a week and enjoy Mr P’s birthday with friends this Friday we stayed over at a nice hotel and dined at one of our favourite restaurants ‘No Patio‘ in Lagos.



The food was absolutely delicious!


And we finally finished with a Calypso Coffee, which I paid for with the heartburn from Hell.

We dined out five times this week, and I’m stuffed to bursting. Move over French Goose. I donate my liver as foie gras
Yet another plant
On Saturday morning, we went to the weekly produce market in Lagos to buy homegrown veg and other products and of course I couldn’t resist this plant. I’ve wanted one for years. It spoke to me.

***
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that’s a wrap for this week’s highlights, folks. Next week, life returns to normal, slaving over a hot stove and experimenting with new recipes. Shhhh, rumour has it that Mr P is going to step up to the plate and cook dinner one evening.
Do check out more Coffee shares over at Natalie’s blog or over at Deb’s blog ‘Anything Goes’

I have a friend who lives in Washington DC. She’s been living there for at least 10 years. She tells me a lot people she knows who work for the federal government are out of a job. It’s worse than what is on the news. I work in a university, and I see the trickle-down effects around me. A lot of schools are pausing their programs and PhD admissions due to cuts in funding.
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Hi Julie, it is difficult to filter the news and know what is truth, half truth or fiction. It is a travesity what is happening in the US at the moment. Every day as we watch the horrors unfold we wake up and wonder what next?
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I always appreciate the perspective from the outside. I even seek news out there too — even if it’s not English.
I noticed those who aren’t in the public sector, education, healthcare don’t “get” it. It must be nice to not “get” it. Are they deferring (or denying( the inevitable? Who would advocate for them when it affects them?
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That coffee looks really good and how fun to visit a new garden center.
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Hi Kirsten, stanks for stopping by. Yep, the Tequila coffee was wonderful but very moreish.
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Seems like you had a fantastic surprise get together.
Saw this awesome post at My Random Musings: Anything Goes.
My entries this week #33+34
Please share with SSPS: https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/
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Hi Esme, thanks for dropping by. I can’t seem to leave comments on Blogger blogs. I will check out your blog but if it’s a blogger blog I’ll read but no comments get through
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I am not on blogger, so you should be fine. Hope to find your links and comments soon. Link for this week, if interested: https://esmesalon.com/inlinkz-349-senior-salon-pit-stop/
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YEs, I tried to post on the advocado cho moouse realfoodblogger.com/ IT is blogger.
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Sorry misunderstood, I thought you meant you’re unable to comment on my blog. I have also found that I am unable to leave comments on some blogs, so if I feel I wish to say something to them I have gone further, checked to see if I can find them on Pinterest or even IG and left a comment that way.
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Amazing birthday surprise! So glad it all went well.
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Thanks Lana 🙂
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What a wonderful surprise. My daughter also lives away from home and it is hard sometimes. And the Serengeti is the most magical place!!
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Hi Laura, thanks for stopping by. IT is so hard living away from family, yes? Re Serengeti, from what I researched if we were younger and fitter I’d love to go.
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What a great birthday surprise!
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The best EVER!
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What an absolutely wonderful birthday surprise for your husband. Memories to last a lifetime!
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Hi Donna, it was the most amazing surpise ever. IT was the best gift she could have given him!
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What an amazing gift for your daughter to surprise her dad for his birthday! I bet he almost fell out of his chair 😉 You are right that quality family time is absolutely priceless, I’m so glad you had such a lovely few days together.
I have no words for the Angry Mango. If it weren’t all so dangerous, it *might be funny. I fear we’re living in the Upside Down and I have no idea how to get back to some sense of sanity here in the US. Truly (sigh).
Alas, we do what we can and lovely plants and good food and family help.
Hope you have a calm and joyful week ahead.
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Thank you, Melissa. Yep, it is priceless and the older I get the more I appreciate it 🙂
Love the name, Angry Mango. Crazy times for sure. All we can do is try to stay calm.
Have a good week.
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That’s a lovely surprise by your daughter. I’m sure you will all remember it for a long time. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Hi Natalie, yes. A memorable surprise to be sure 🙂
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What a lovely week, especially the visit from your daughter. My philosophy toward special days has always been: celebrate early, celebrate often. On a less happy note…the orange man has been spewing garbage as usual, but an especially low moment came when he accused Ukraine of starting the war and Zelinsky (sp?) of being a dictator. To end on a high note: At a governors meeting in DC, Maine’s Janet Mills stood up to Trump, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
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Hi Laurie, yes. IT was special and it seems strange that this time a week ago she was sitting here with us sipping a glass of wine. How quickly time passes. It takes courage to stand up to a bully. Well done, Janet Mills.
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Wonderful memories you have made! And, yes. Well done, Janet Mills. So proud of her.
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