Today has been gloriously sunny and hot - but many customers preferred to sit inside in the relative coolness. Temperatures reached in excess of 33oC this afternoon on our patio, mostly because it is so sheltered. There are many trees all round, plus the advantage of an old railway embankment to the rear of our ground which makes for a fantastic windbreak - so not much breeze today!

My kitchen faces the rear and gets the sun all day which can make things somewhat warm at peak times - but with the help of fans, things work out not too bad. Plus getting to go outside to wait on tables is nice.

I've just started to make my own pies and have today mastered nicely flavoured mince pies, lovely lovely steak and gravy pies and lastly a traditional scottish pie - haggis, neeps and tatties. Of course this means for lunch I had a mince pie, mid afternoon 1/2 a steak and gravy pie and for late afternoon 1/4 haggis etc pie. Perhaps not such a good diet (all in the space of 6 hours) but it had to be done. Tomorrow's lunch is macaroni cheese and potato pie, perhaps a portion of chicken pie and maybe even some chicken curry pie! Let me just mention that these pies are not huge!! I shall cut back later in the week, I promise.

These are the steak pies which ooze gravy when cut into!!