Cake & A Wednesday Off
We started the week off with cake! Sunday afternoon was a celebration. The lovely cake pictured above is a chocolate crumble cheesecake that I made for Lea’s leaving party. The next five Monday mornings are going to be hard. Each week another volunteer will be leaving the island. Of course on that same afternoon a new volunteer will be arriving to take their place. It’s a cycle you don’t really get used to. It’s so hard to have made such fast friends and then have to wave them off and stay behind. The fifth Monday, July 28th, it will be my turn. Sigh. Let’s not dwell there yet.
This week the kitchen staff had a party for Lea. Each time a kitchen volunteer leaves Anja has us over to her house for cake, tea, and conversation. Lea chose the chocolate cheesecake for her party. I am already trying to narrow it down to which cake I’d like to have. So many delicious choices. I’ve made them alllllll! teehee Anywho, it was a very pleasant afternoon and we laughed a lot.
Wednesday was my day off. It was a good good day, even if I didn’t take a hike. I had a morning massage. Yum, My aching feel appreciated that. Then four of us took the ferry over to Finnaphort for fish & chips at the Creel. (The little shack pictured above.) They are award winning. It’s fresh and yummy, and all very fried. The chips are top knotch. Having worked in the kitchen for Declan, my Irish boss, I now have a whole new appreciation for potatoes. I may never make them the same again. In fact let me share the latest way Declan showed me how to make them…
Take a large high quality red baking potato chop it in half. Prepare the baking sheet: line it with parchment paper, pour out a quarter inch or more of oil and place the potatoes cut side down on the pan. Roast at 400° for an hour. About half way through brush the top of the spuds with oil and sprinkle them with salt. The crunchiness of the outside and the tender fluffiness of the inside will blow you away. (Top quality spud required!)
After the lunch adventure I took a lovely nap. Then a couple of us went out for pizza at the local joint. Pepperoni and candied peppers! O. M. G. So delicious. Yes it was a meat day. All veg all the time left us craving a little something different. After a tasty meal we sauntered over to the village hall and there was an evening’s entertainment from Bruce Cockburn. What a treat!! I’d never heard of him but it was immediately apparent that he was something special. He’s had a long and happy career. I loved his style of story telling songs he’s written. His guitar playing seemed low key but was masterful, such picking! He held the room for over an hour. It was grand.
And since the rhythm of the days here is so influenced by Abbey life the concert was over in time for the evening service at 9. Wednesday is the Creation service. I love to go and hear what other volunteers and staff members do with the evening service. Dot’s reflection was personal and yet universal. I enjoyed it very much.
That’s a pretty good day off if you ask me. Alone time, friend time, entertainment, and contemplation. I had a balanced day full of joy.