This week on Almost the Weekend, it has been a very good week indeed — results are in, the marathon rolls on and we spent a glorious day at a food festival in a very familiar house. The big one first — it was GCSE results day, and our daughter was incredibly nervous. She had convinced herself she had not done well, and in the end she passed everything she needed with no retakes. There may even be a remark on the cards for English Literature. A few tears over a subject-block clash in sixth form, but she is signed up, settled and ready. We could not be prouder. And a heartfelt well done to everyone who got their results this week — GCSEs do not define you, this is only the start. We celebrated with a spontaneous meal out at Smith and Western overlooking the park. Almost Fit has been a week of ups and downs. Plenty of steps racked up while out and about, but strength training fell by the wayside in a gloriously busy week — an up week for steps, a down week for the weights. We are still weighing everything, counting calories and noticing just how much our portion sizes have shrunk, and our own food-tracking app is nearly ready to share with the world. Almost Blooming is all about patience. The pepper plant now has two little peppers, one growing into a proper miniature, and another crop of tomatoes is ripening in the sunshine. Lesson learned — they need far more support and a much deeper pot, so it is bigger tubs and cone frames for next year. On the telly we finished Him & Her on BBC iPlayer — a wonderfully quirky twenty ten sitcom about a very lazy, very broke twenty-something couple who barely leave their flat. Russell Tovey, Sarah Solemani, Kerry Howard and Joe Wilkinson, four series of brilliantly relatable chaos, and one Christmas special left to savour. And the Harry Potter marathon rolls on — films two through seven done, and Mr Almost has completely changed his mind on Deathly Hallows Part One, finally loving a film he has always disliked. With the twenty five year anniversary bringing the Philosopher’s Stone back to cinemas next month, and a special free elf named Dobby, there is real magic in the air. The big day out was the Great British Food Festival at West Horsley Place — which, to our absolute delight, turned out to be Button House from the BBC comedy Ghosts. A wonderful, well-run, dog-friendly day with live music, brilliant stalls, handmade Welsh pottery gin cups made with Snowdonia minerals, and a VIP section that was worth every penny for the shade, the cider and the front-row view. The paint and sip was a lovely idea, though we would have liked a little more guidance. And Almost Edible was a real highlight — a build-your-own smash burger masterclass with Daddy Bear Grylls. Thirty five percent fat mince, no breadcrumbs, pressed on parchment for the perfect char, cowboy butter seasoning, a whole onion cooked right in the coals and squeezed out sweet and soft, and classic burger cheese. Hands down one of the best burgers we have ever tasted. Ten out of ten and absolutely being recreated at home. Tipple of the Week is a chai masala cold brew from the House of Angara, a lovely family business we discovered at the festival — ten fresh-ground spices, served over ice with cold milk. Refreshing and full of goodness, and even better with a touch of sugar. Four out of five at home, a full five at the show. Pull up a chair. You’re one of us now. 🎙️ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mrandmrsalmost.substack.com
