There's a nip in the air and my angels are back in uniform.

I have mixed emotions - now I actually have a minute to think about my feelings! 

I do love the summer holidays — not having to get up at 6am every weekday to start the daily grind; and the lack of strict routines. Time to just be.

I'm not missing the constant barrage of questions and comments. Nor my role as tour manager/chef — the stress of the daily requirement to outline the next week's activities in detail! 

Nor do I the constant whine of "I'm hungry" - my eight year old daughter's mantra; the endless food shopping and moans from both children about WHATEVER I say I'll be cooking for supper. She and her 10 year old brother have stopped bickering only when they're asleep. 

There have, however, been foodie highlights and memorable moments when peace reigned. 

1. Chuc Cafe at the Serpentine Gallery:

We were invited for brunch at this gloriously situated cafe, next to the (air conditioned) art gallery which sits next to Hyde Park's lovely, man-made lake. Arriving at 10am on the boiling August Bank Holiday it was reasonably quiet and the interior cool and airy. My daughter was delighted with the child-friendly brunch menu which included freshly pressed juice; fruit salad, smashed avo or scrambled eggs on toast and banana bread with banana and Nutella. No prizes for guessing which one my children chose. 

For me, chia seeds with honey and berries then a generous portion of scrambled eggs with smoked salmon (smoked in Chalk Farm - noch) and gluten free toast. (I'll post more on gluten gate in a week or so.) 
A paint-strippingly strong Bloody Mary was tasty but a bit too much for me at that time of day. 
 

The only battles were over the rules in the several rounds of Uno we played. A rare win for harmony. I'd head back to Chucs, which is a small chain with big ideas, growing in and around the West London and South West London postcodes. 

When we left the cool cafe to walk around the  Serpentine.
 

2.