....and the winners are.........

....A couple of blogs ago, I was writing about the delights of having a sea view...and whether, if you had one.... you`d ever tire of it. I asked what kind of sights YOU could see from where you live or work--and what kind of view you`d like to have. And I promised a chocolatey prize from the amazing Shropshire chocolatier Julia Wenlock (@tootsweetsshrew) for the winner.

Well there was a fabulous response--so thankyou!

And because I`m so chuffed that you took the time and trouble to send pics, I`ve decided to award two main prizes instead of one...and a sweet treat from Julia`s shop for everyone whose picture appears on the blog.

So...a box of freshly made chocolates to Nita, for her beach views of Pwhelli (and the view in her room of Livia doing *yoga*), and another box of freshly made chocs to Kerry of Shropshire, for her views of beaches in Wales and Cornwall, and her favourite view of all, little Luke.

And for the `runners up`....mini chocolatey thankyous : to Mike in Folkestone, Judy in Warwickshire, Alec Dyche (man on the move), Roy W (man hearing moooos), Tracey the HoboFlorist from Oswestry, Cathy Brown with her view from a London office, Scott from Scott`s Snack Shack in Shrewsbury, and for sheer impudence, Mr Ian Perry for *his* shot of the Sydney harbour bridge, which fooled nobody, but made me laugh.

I`ll pop the prizes in the post on Monday--so if your name appears above, please email me your address.   janemcintyre1@btinternet.com

And thanks so much for taking part!

ps. Julia Wenlock`s shop can be found at Shrewsbury Market Hall. I defy you to pop in and not buy something!!

A Big Mexican

Meal, that is; not bloke. Guacamole, enchilladas. spicy chicken n`cheese --oh and tortilla chips with all kinds of things on top, warmed and served up as canapes.

That was the feast served up on Saturday night, by the man they called Dolmann back in the 80s, when he had a number one hit in Me-hi-co. Truly.

It was called `High Sex Drive`, and, come to think of it, we should have got him to sing it for us.A kind of inter-course treat.

But `Yes, Chef!`, as he became known , and the non Mexican sounding Maitre D` (aka Ian Perry), were way too `busy in the kitchen`.

And it wasn`t *just* that it all tasted fabulous. It was the gesture. By some amazing mates who sat in my house and raised several glasses to the start of my new life.Life outside the BBC bubble. Life with a dollar in my pocket and freedom to do, every day, what I wish.

It was a top night.They`re fantastic mates. And do you know...they washed up afterwards.