Now there's something I don't often – OK, never – write.
And it's not like we are some massive clan, our family has always been pretty small, and, as many of you will know, a bit dislocated: Cathy living in Holland, Richard's religious fervour somewhat unhelpful for smooth family bonding, my one elderly aunt being a far-off 'Essex girl' etc etc..
BUT – the miracle happened. We managed to get 10 members of the family (which is pretty much all of us, barring Hawksey who had snuck off to umpire in Oxford at the prospect of having so many Scotts under his roof).
And it was actually really good – the sun shone, the two dogs didn't kill each other (although Adrian's dog Buster is a barker, thank you god Scrumpy doesn't yap endlessly), the kids didn't scream too much (or was I just screening it out??) and the lasagne and puds (from that 'Cook' shop in Southfields – bloody delicious, try the Salted Caramel pavlova) were noshable by both young and old.
Started with some old fashioned fun – Scrumpy, Lily and Daisy making eponymous chains in the park, battered by the morning May wind.
Then the arrival of the oldest guest – my 94 year old aunt Ellen. Who still cooks for herself (although her son, my cousin Adrian shops for her) and is amazingly spry. She's the only surviving sibling of my Dad, who was one of 5. And who can still knock back a glass of champers, god bless her.
And thence onto a very rare photo indeed – all three Scott children with Mum. Needs a bit of cropping to lose the sexy hose in the background methinks…
And finally to the group shot – not Mum's best but here we all are. Cathy, Ellen, Richard, cousin Adrian, Emmanuel, Scarlett (Adrian's daughter) and Mum. Ta da! x
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