It was the annual birthday bash a couple of weeks ago – Matthew and Steven almost share a birthday, give or take a day or two, at the end of June, perfectly timed for a mid-year family get together, just 6 months after the other annual family event, at Christmas.
Christmas generally takes place over a week, as folk come and go to fit in with other family celebrations, but the summer event is a one day affair, with the whole family coming together at the same time – just as well that it is generally warm enough for the gathering to spread into the garden.
This year rain threatened, and then delivered heavy showers, and we erected the gazebo on the patio, over the patio doors, with people making use the kitchen, study, patio and garden, and in the case of the children, one of the bedrooms, depending on what the sky was delivering. If I recall correctly, there were 20 of us, including 4 granddaughters. Unusually I had two mother-in-laws in attendance – Dad brought Edwina, Lynn’s mum.
Chantal served a large bowl of chilli and a large bowl of lasagne on the garden table set up under the gazebo, quite snug during the gusty showers. The rain stopped in time for the children to play in the garden, ably assisted by the grown-ups, while Chantal cooked a barbeque. Kate supplied some excellent puddings, including my favourite – cheesecake. As the shadows lengthened we lit the fire pit, all sitting around it on the patio, chatting, and toasting marshmallows on a stick.
Claire, Si, Bess and Florence travelled back to Yorkshire in the evening, but not before all four girls had enjoyed bath time together, while some of us continued to enjoy a glass of wine around the fire pit.
The Hampshire Tilleys were still with us on Sunday. Chris went off on a bike ride, while the rest of us went kite flying in the fields behind our house.
Photos in “Our Recent Photos”
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
