A more pleasant Easter Sunday!

Since Mum died on Easter Sunday, back in 2004, this day has never been one that we look forward to any more.

Yesterday, however, we were invited out to Sunday Lunch at the Holiday Inn, Plymouth. When Dad was a practising architect, he did a lot of work for the Wrigleys factory in the city, where he got very friendly with the then factory-manager, Bill Dapling.

Bill, with whom we used to have lunch virtually every Thursday, sadly passed away last June, but Dad still keeps in touch with his widow, Audrey. Dad and Bill also worked with Terry Day, who had his own Heating & Ventilation Company in Sussex, and who was visiting Plymouth for a few days, as he's done. a couple of times before, since he retired.

He invited Dad, Audrey and me to Sunday Lunch, and I must say it was really excellent!

We haven't been to the Holiday Inn for some time, but the food was excellent, as was the service, and the at-table entertainment provided by magician, David Duval, was first-class!

Of course, it was a beautiful sunny day, and the view over the Hoe, from the Penthouse Restaurant, was an added bonus (see above)!

It certainly helped Dad and me to get through what has always been a day we'd both rather forget!

Excellent service!

Whilst on the subject of dental treatment, Dad and I think ourselves extremely lucky to have the services of Alex Paulsson as our dentist, at Oasis Dental Care, Plymstock.

'Alex', or to give him his full name, Hakan Henry Alexander Paulsson, is actually Swedish, though you'd scarcely notice this, is not only a superb craftsman and technician, but is so willing to explain exactly what he proposes to do, and then keeps you informed at every stage of the proceedings. We look upon him as a friend rather than dentist, though in his treatment and demeanour, he is scrupulously professional. I don't know much about the other dentists in the practice - I can tell you which hygienist to avoid, but that's another story - but I can honestly say that I've felt a thing! Except, of course, when having to pay up, although their prices for treatment seem in line with what you'd expect to pay in Plymouth, and it's a friendly and helpful practice, too!

If you're looking for a 'top' dentist, we can't recommend or praise Alex too highly!

A sign of the times?

Recently I had to have some dental treatment, after a crown had cracked. I have noticed, or it seems to happen when I've been in the waiting room, that instead of it being packed, it's now very quiet!

Of course in the UK, even though you've paid for it, you're virtually unable to get dental treatment on the NHS, and have to take the costlier option of private treatment. Perhaps, in the current credit crunch, people aren't spending so much on their teeth. Strangely, though, pubs and clubs seem just as busy, perhaps even more so! Could it be that people are simply using alcohol to numb the pain?!

Our ideal Chinese menu!

As often as we can, we get a takeaway form Dragon City, (above). and lately we have hit upon what we think is the perfect accompaniment to our two main courses. We initially tried noodles, omelette (Foo Young), then fried rice with crab meat, but have 'returned' to our original flavouring, but now in 'fried rice' format - Singapore Fried Rice.

If you are in the Plymouth (Chaddlewood) area, do give them a try. We've just noticed that the pub at the end of our road, which has been shut for some months, now looks like it's going to open as a Chinese Restaurant! We don't think it'll make a go of it, and, even if it does, we'll prefer to get our meals from Olivia and Larry's takeaway, Dragon City!

Our new Topsham hostelry!

Dad and I met up with cousin Ken again yesterday, for Sunday lunch in Topsham.

Although we had been to the Lord Nelson on a number of occasions, we weren't so enamoured with the meal we had there, back in November, so decided to make a change yesterday. Of course, being Mothering Sunday, and a lovely sunny day, too, there were lots of people about, and we made sure that Ken had booked in good time!

We had been to the Passage House Inn before, but not for some considerable time. We found it excellent - it's not cheap, but not overly expensive either, and the choice of menu is better, we felt, than the Lord Nelson's. Our reserved table was ready when we arrived just after 1pm, and we very much enjoyed it - true, we had to wait a while, both before making our order, and then in between courses (we could only manage a starter and main course!), but they were busy with a lot of people sitting outside and enjoying the early spring sunshine.

We then had a pleasant walk around the town, before repairing to Ken's for tea and cake, and then back home. Luckily we'd recorded Liverpool's match against Aston Villa on Sky+, so enjoyed watching this afterwards.

So, what's wrong with fast food - occasionally?

Dad and I eat well, I think, and we always combine good, wholesome food, with sandwiches, the fairly regular Chinese takeaway, and sometimes a visit to our local McDonald's, which is conveniently situated a short drive away.

I know my cousin, Wendy, in Australia, absolutely loathes this type of fast food and, indeed, when I was once staying with her for a few days, insisted that the packing tasted better than the contents!

Personally I think you can do a lot worse than McDonald's - and, even though, the tea is simply a tea bag in a cardboard cup, it always tastes good and strong. Furthermore, when we've been abroad, we've always relied on a visit to a local McDonald's, not only because of the tea, but more so because they generally have far cleaner toilets than some other similar establishments!

The picture shows Dad sitting across the table from me, enjoying 'said' cuppa, during a recent visit to our local one!

Dragon City goes from strength to strength!

If I reviewed food, rather than classical music, I would be only too pleased to give Dragon City, Chaddlewood, Plympton, the highest accolade!

Dad and I have come to Chinese takeaways relatively late in our lives, and probably wouldn't have done so, had not the parents of one of my long-standing piano students had their own!

With their initial recommendation we started out with a basic pair of main course dishes:

King Prawn with Broccoli & Garlic
Beef and Mushrooms

To accompany this we have tried a number of different options, including Singapore Chow Mein, Mushroom Foo Young, Roast Duck Chow Mein - even a portion of their excellent Chips!

Last night we think we have now come up with the definitive:

Crab Meat Fried Rice (with extra peas & onions!)

(but now see a later post above!

Of course, we always finish this off with a Banana Fritter with Syrup, in any case! We think we now have the perfect combination for us, and which we enjoy each weekend, on those days when I'm not out reviewing! Of course, just as with music reviews, it's all a matter of personal taste, but if you want to see why we're so impressed, then give Dragon City a call! It's open every day from 5.00pm - 11.00pm, and has a delivery service too, if you're in the area. We're a little farther away, but the journey's certainly worth it, we feel.

The number to call is: (01752) 331033

- you might even get Isaac (my piano student, pictured above) to answer the phone, and take your order, or serve you in person on your arrival!