Breakfast for Nicholas Eden( Earl of Avon)

I am not dropping names. But to tell his story I need to.

A wonderful cook. You could go to his small mews house and there would be fifteen guests. All cooking by him (consider he was a Minister). And these were special but simple parties.

I never had a chance to have breakfast with him. However if he was here I would give him

Puris- a deep friend Indian bread

Homemade yogurt

Green Chillies with Mustard seeds

A fresh Paw Paw

Indian Masala Tea of course

As you may know he was one of the first public figures to contract the HIV virus which developed into AIDS. The newspapers had a ball. In those days there was no medication. So imagine this tall figure going blind and having to crawl around his house. This was never reported.

Michael Watson was his best friend. They had spent many summers playing table tennis in the South of France. At the end of such a strong friendship, how does one say good bye.

In the week before Nicholas passed away, Michael booked their favourite restaurant and gently took Nicholas with the aid of a wheelchair. I think the restaurant was “Chez Nous”. And the staff treated them as if nothing was wrong.

This is true friendship and true manners.

Let’s have another cup of Indian tea which I know Nicholas would have loved