Friday, February 26, 2010
That's blown the blues away. Getting there wasn't easy. Although it is just across the lane it is on a higher level to us and from the gate there are about 50 million steps up to the house. Did I say it was raining and MTL doesn't do umbrellas - I do however. The path was well lit - happily - and we reached the door without mishap. It's an upside down house so more steps but the first faces we saw was our charming host and my dear pal Jackie. I had guessed correctly and it was R's birthday and he was also celebrating his new appointment of Station Master at Dunster.
We have a wonderful steam train railway at Minehead which all the grandchildren have enjoyed over the years. R told me he had lived in at least 15 different homes as his father had been in the army. I asked him what made him choose to live here and he said his father wanted the sea, his mother the countryside and he himself was passionate about railways so Minehead filled the bill. He has been Station Master at Minehead previously. It is manned entirely by voluntary workers - it must be every little boy's dream.
R's help had offered to do the catering and there was a splendid spread. There were about 25 of us but there were enough cold cuts, salads, baby quiches, sausages , roast potatoes and delicious blobby mixtures to feed 100. The wine and cheeses were just the right temperature and the bread was good. Eventually they cleared a space for the desserts: flans, apple pies, a meringuey trifle and the most wicked ice creams and mousses that gave everybody - especially moi - a happy glow. It was great to see everybody having a good time and R had enlisted two sons of a neighbour who looked after everybody and got us all to secretly sign a giant card for R.
Everybody was friendly and there was a nice mix of people. Jackie and I share a chiropodist - Lynn - and it's always a pleasure to sit in her office and watch the dozens of birds who visit her bird feeders and pond. Apparently she had an embarrassing moment recently when a male client of hers said:
'Oh Lynn I do like your tits.' An innocent remark which made her turn pink.
Birds are singing , the sun is shining so we're going shopping. So glad we went.
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16 comments:
I was surprised when I found out that my local railway station [Tarka Line] is a request stop... and that I have to make an appropriate sign to make the driver stop for me. But all in all it is a much friendlier service as the conductor provides in-house entertainment... and he is a cockney!
Sx
Sounds like a great time. I prefer parties with buffets where one can mingle among the crowds. Sit-down dinners seem so forced.
Cheers.
And a good time was had by all!
(And yes, I do like a good party, especially ones thrown by members of my mad family!)
Have a nice weekend. :¬)
(Doris reminds me of Sundays as a child!)
xxx
We worry and get nervous, and invariably end up having a good time. Or a great time.
YTL, umbrella-less, must like the wet look. Doesn't he get moldy?
I think I'd like that played at my funeral.
Sorry, didn't mean to be morbid.
Your description of the food reminds me of the scene in Wind in the Willows where Mole tells Ratty what he has for their little picnic. I love it. It just sounds perfect.
The mammy herself used to sing the songs of Doris Day to us all as we lay head to toe in our bed of blankets and coats. A fond memory, and one that had been locked away for many a year.
Scarlet: alas our train goes no further south than Minehead and doesn't quite reach Taunton.
Randall: we did collapse into chairs to eat but there was no formality and one could eat when and where one wished
Mapstew: family ones are the best. Hope your throat is better.
Charlie : no mould so far. He had a mac and a waterproof tartan cap - which he managed to leave behind. Forever with any luck:)
Daphne: I toy between 'Lovely Day' and 'Alright Now.'
Madame D: food can make me wax lyrical;)
Jimmy: happy to remind you of a happy memory. The times were hard but you had your Mammy.
That was a very sad song!
Glad you're glad you went, it sounds fab. I love a good spread and that sounds like a particularly good one.
Mmm, lovely. And a steam train too! An Austrian man bought the rights to a former narrow-guage track near here, but he had trouble as gypsies stole all the rails.
Eryl:It was delightfully quirky like - roast potatoes without the roast but they were very popular.
Gadjo: I hoped gypsies would have mended their ways since they cut a hole in our side car in a camping ground in the Lakes in the thirties. Dad made us pack up and leave immediately and they had seemed so friendly.
I'm so glad you went too. Because of this, you are able to share the delightful evening with us....and start my afternoon here with a big smile. Stay warm. Spring is on the way.
Maggie: that's the spirit:)
Hmmmmm. I know I commented on this post....Well, I was happy for you having such a good time....And I believe I said something about the food sounding yummy.....AND,
I also told you I had given you an AWARD!
Maybe you don't want to do the Seven Things---if not, I understand, completely.
Oh Yes....and I said something abot the 'tits', too....lol!
I know they are Birds....!
Naomi: I'm sorry if your comment got lost. I have no control over them now they come straight to the box - or not.
Thank you for the award and I will try to do the seven things. Very useful when the well is dry but I need to think so will be a day or two.
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