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A week ago we had celebrated Shelly’s birthday at a party in her garden sheltering under a marquee from the sun. Today it was the turn of Ron’s 70th.
This time raindrops dripped from that same tent. The 70 bunting, blown by the wind, stuck, upside down, to the awning.
Of the guests, numbering some forty people, only the hardened drinkers availed themselves of the somewhat soggy outside protection.
It was definitely a day for umbrellas.
Most of the guests gathered inside.
Some, who knew each other, were pleasantly surprised at each other’s presence.
Last week’s event had been mostly for family members. This one was largely attended by friends, but grandparents, like Helen putting on Billy’s shoes
or simply revelling in Max, were welcome.
Great aunts, Shelly
and Jackie also made much of Max,
who maintained a firm grip on Jackie’s pearls;
while his brother Billy wheeled his cars across the table.
Stephanie did manage to have a go with her younger son when the older generation allowed it.
Ron had thoughtfully provided a quiz spanning the seventy years of his life ‘in case no-one turned up’. He needn’t have worried about that. Bill
and other guests got stuck into this with bemused enthusiasm.
Donna was perhaps exempt from this game because her partner, Neil, was involved in the marking.
None was more surprised than Jackie and me when we won the competition, possibly because Becky and Ian had arrived after the judging had begun. Our daughter had completed the test on her own and in a hurry, yet scored only one point less than us.
Jackie’s chicken jalfrezi with sag or peas ponir and savoury rice was a great success. All was eaten in a very short space of time except for one helping saved by a guest who wished to wait until he had room for it.
LordBeariofBow’s comment below provides this most appropriate addition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg2vtWezWbw Thanks, Brian.
Shelly’s fish pie and lasagne were also excellent, as were trifle and cakes produced by Jackie’s two sisters. Red and white wine and various beers were imbibed.