Mexican Madness

Last night saw the 2nd of my Pop-Up restaurant evenings; Mexican March.  It was almost a full house with 11 people crammed into my living room, but it was such a good atmosphere and i think most people enjoyed the more authentic Mexican food served (no Tex-Mex here!).  We now know that we will have to limit our restaurant evenings to a maximum of 14, but i don't think that's too big a problem.  The Other Half was successfully chained to the kitchen and yet managed to get equally successfully sociable by the end of the evening - I think the number of empty Corona bottles in the kitchen was a clue. 

Sadly we were very short-staffed as The Boy had taken to his bed with a headache (dehydrated again no doubt) and Girlie was next door baby-sitting, so yours truly (dressed appropriately in flowing cotton with flowers in my hair) waited tables like a whirling dervish (double pain killers last night and this morning and wondering whether i could squeeze in a quick hip replacement before the Trek).  Still, a most enjoyable evening and so great to catch up with friends that i hadn't seen in ages.

On Friday I did my annual trip up to London to talk to 2nd year medical students at UCL about living with a genetic disorder.  I love doing this, and not just 'cause they pay me!  Although they get younger every year (to me) they are as bright as anything (even those with hangovers!) - it's almost a therapeutic experience for me with the added benefit of hoping that one of these young things will remember me when faced with a difficult-to-diagnose patient in the years ahead, and possibly make an earlier diagnosis than i had.  Bless them; they had swotted up on me and wished me luck with The Trek - wish some of them would come too!!

In between all these activities of course, I've been constantly watching the news since the Japanese earthquake and tsunami - absolutely shocking.  I have never been there, but am due to go in June to talk at a medical conference and so have been in contact with doctors and the chief of their new patient group - all lovely people.  Thankfully, they are all okay but it has completely shaken everyone there.

Well, i best go and continue changing the restaurant back into a home; stacks of washing up and furniture moving to do as well as lots of left-over tortilla chips and After 8 chocolates to hoover up!