It seemed a good idea, in the middle of last year, to offer to host the Scott family get together at our house, to celebrate what would have been Dad’s 100th birthday.
It then felt slightly less of a good idea as Hawksey & I spent most of this week wondering and worrying about what the 19 attendees of different generations would eat, from the youngest at 5 months, through the 3-7 year old great nieces & nephews, to the fussy teenage Dutch nieces through to the adults and cousin Adrian in his 70s..
And then heading out to buy a mountain of grub, ordering 5kg of beef at the butchers, borrowing tablecloths from next door and dinner chairs from Henry-over-the-road. De-sprogging the place was needed, removing the rug, glass vases, sharp cornered coffee table etc and then setting every plate and bit of cutlery we possess, alongside the classy 100th Celebration serviettes that of course Amazon could provide.
Sadly Jess’s family were too ill to join us, so we were 4 down on Sat morning, but it did give a bit more elbow room for everyone else! Cathy & her girls knocked out a pile of canapés and Cathy had brought a mountain of little kid prezzies, which went down well with Grace’s two boys particularly, when they eventually emerged from under the table..
We also met Adrian’s daughter’s fiancé – a rather gorgeous Swiss chap – and heard all about the wedding plans in Rome. Rick & Cathy are going but I’ve swerved it, though am sure it’ll be a pretty mega flash do.
Given that we had a guest dog staying, Saphi, the day was remarkably unchaotic, nothing got broken and we are left with just a fridgeful of boeuf bourguinon, various bits of pudding (not for long!) and a pile of bedding and towels for the laundry as Cathy & the Clog nieces headed off back to Holland just now.
Good to see Grace, my furthest off niece, with her hubby Adam and the two boys as well as Abbie & Nick with their pride and joy, baby Boaz.
Adrian stood up and suggested we make this an annual family event, but just as my face was saying ‘no way Jose’, he luckily added that its his 75th birthday next year and that he will be hosting – possibly at the Hurlingham or in a pub as we suggested, to keep it easy! Thank god for that small mercy.
Rick stayed over so he, Cathy & I could have a natter after watching England’s dire rugby performance vs Italy, and with the Dutch nieces managed to shovel in a couple of cheeky Cosmopolitan cocktails and a few Sat eve pizzas just to keep the wolf from the door.
Had a dog walk on the common with the clogs and they devoured a huge Windmill breakfast each – I am wise to this now, so just ordered toast for myself, as between them a deluge of unwanted fried eggs and bacon was then handed over… Most odd – who doesn’t love bacon on their Sunday breakfast plate?
Is that the sofa I hear calling now? Time to go and warm it thoroughly, I don’t intend to move for HOURS! x