Sunday, November 23, 2008

 

What a weekend. A party and a little snow.

There is so much I could be writing but so little energy!
Yesterday was a long and special day, which I will come to in a moment.
For much of today I have been idle - idle to the point of being asleep in the middle of the day.
We had promised Ashley a car boot sale and therefore that is what he got.
We set off for Dorking on a cold morning, hardly light at 7'clock.
We had not got much past Charlwood when it began to snow. It wasn't lovely dry snow which would make a Christmas card type scene, but wet cold snow.
We carried on regardless.
We were mad of course - but not as mad as the stall holders who presumably were not planning on a quick getaway. There were lots of other customers too.
I bought a Portmeirion cheese dish and Bill bought an ice scraper for those frosty mornings.
Ashley bought CDs.
We were out so we thought we might as well return via Horley.
I bought 2 chickens (for storing eggs in) and an OS map to sell on.
Ashley bought books.
So we have a collection of things that we must take to Bangor the weekend before Christmas.
And since then idleness has ruled the day.
The snow turned to rain and later in the day the skies cleared.
I have sorted out the photos taken at Roger's party and tomorrow we will send on a web address with all of them once we get them onto the Picassa web site.
We had some lunch in Devizes and looked in some of the Devizes charity shops - where I decided to increase my layers of clothing by buying a Berketex cream cardigan.
We arrived at the Market Lavington Community Hall at just gone 3 o'clock and soon were wrapped up in conversations with our nearest and dearest and those we see less often - and some of Roger's old friends who I hadn't seen for years.
We sat at the tables with cups of tea and coffee and helped ourselves from the large range of cakes that Sue had prepared.
And all the while there was talk.
I did slip away and move around with the camera to take snap shots. The standard is not particularly good, but they do capture the scene and those who were there.
Sometime after 7 o'clock dinner was served - again a huge range of different tasty meals were there to be sampled.
Sue has worked so hard to make the party a success - along with her trusty helpers, Simon and Meg.
There were puddings too, which most tucked into with gusto. I knew I had eaten enough by that time.
Later 60 candles were lit and Roger blew them all out (not all in one go of course).
Some people stayed at Roger and Sue's, some had booked into bed and breakfast places and others drove home.
We drove home on a cold clear night and the journey was smooth.
We got home just after midnight.
Now for a few pictures. I selected the ones that show Roger's immediate family and his home.

Happy birthday baby brother! The date is actually on Tuesday.


Megan and Tom light the 60 candles.


It was hard to get a picture of Sue - I was too,busy talking and she, bless her, was too busy.
I think she managed some talking too.


Simon, Tom (Meg's partner) and Nikki (Simon's partner).

A general view in the hall.
The Community Hall has only recently been opened and is magnificent.


At one end of the hall is a mural of the village - a sort of picture map, with contributions from residents showing their own homes.



Meg created this image of Locksands Farm.

What a weekend. A party and a little snow.
posted by Grandma P on Sunday, November 23, 2008