l'atelier

while the austerity drive continues during the week, by the time weekend rolls round, we do loosen our belts a bit. i'm all for simple eating and the mister is crazy resourceful when it comes to finding a good deal. as a rule of thumb, even when we do "blow out", we try to keep meals under GBP30/head (all inclusive) for a three course. somehow it seems overly flash to blow more than S$120 on a meal. funnily enough, we still think in S$ despite him earning in GBP (phew!). this GBP30 budget does sort of restrict us to lunch but london has an amazing selection of restaurants to choose from and we're loathe to repeat, with the exception of pollen*street*social. didn't hurt that i went so often over summer that the dashing manager would automatically send over complimentary flutes of champers. such a sucker for recognition and special treatment heh! but PSS is extraordinary and fantastic value at lunch time.

last weekend, however, we ventured to l'atelier to check out their lunch time special and weren't disappointed. we'd the three course lunch with wine pairing (ok, busted budget with the wine BUT it was GOOD WINE!) and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the pairing wines. also liked the option of having dessert in the salon bar for a change of scenery. we would've stayed longer and languished in the deep cushion but one of my favourite adults was in town for a bit and i couldn't wait to see her.

and here's where this blog starts to get a bit personal... ooH! while i admire how the*manrepeller has such a great way of keeping things personable but not personal (helps when you've a truckload of likeable personality, something i don't profess to possess), i'll let you in on a little trip down memory lane.

a good decade ago, i went out with a sweet boy. we were both so so young, and evidently, it didn't work out but somehow i gained a very special relationship with his wonderful mama. she's amazing at keeping in touch and been an invaluable adult sounding-board over the years. she rang thoughtfully late on saturday morning ("i thought i'd let you newlyweds lie in!") and i jumped at the chance to catch up over tea. she was at the wedding but you know how weddings are and how you never really get a chance to talk proper. and here, to the mister's credit, he joined us. they've been acquainted for years and got along like a house on fire :) which is when i was reminded how truly truly well life has worked out! and speaking about how life's worked out, i realised the mister spent a good part of last weekend with his wife's ex's mother and he's spending next weekend in zurich with his wife's first crush (while i'm wilderness-ing in northumberland, mind you!) wow wow. what a hero. don't think i could do the converse, ever!

(no, there're no other skeletons in my closet...)