Family Do

The day had arrived. We were having a bit of a "do". The Gorse Fox got up early with a view to getting things under way but soon realised there was little he could do until M&S emailed to say the food was ready for collection. He did what he does best - he paced up and down and faffed around until it was time for collection.

The email didn't come. The Gorse Fox gave up and went to M&S - all the food was there and ready, they just hadn't informed him... until 30 minutes after he got home with it! While out, he also collected the cake he had had made for the Silver Vixen... after all, it is a special birthday next week.

Back home we moved into high gear. Food was being stashed in fridges or prepared for cooking. The Gorse Fox was preparing salads and other side dishes. Glasses and plates were emerging from all their hiding places. The Sonos was playing an all-day playlist in the background. We were ready.

People started arriving just before midday and there was a steady stream of family for the next 30 minutes. The ovens were working overtime. It very quickly moved into full swing as each part of the family caught up with others and exchanged all their news and all of them caught up with Cousteau-Cub (some hadn't seen her for more than a decade).

The food ws ready and the table could hardly cope. In fact Cousteau-Cub had to find some further fall tables on which to spread some of the food. (It was only after everyone had finished that the Gorse Fox noticed he had a huge gala pie tucked away in the fridge still... unopened). We had a side of salmon, pork belly squares, bulgar wheat salad, chicken pies, steak pies, sandwiches, wraps, chicken drumsticks, cheese, and salad. Then, just as we made a dent in that, it was all cleared away and out came the cheesecake, berries, trifle, eclairs, and fondants. Nobody leaves this house hungry!

As the afternoon wore on the children were kept amused by the bubble wands.

Ellie didn't seem quite her normal self. She was a bit clingy, and very quiet. She might have been a bit overawed by all the people but we suspect not. Cousin Louis was very well behaved and the two of them got on well.

Eventually it was decided that we all needed some air. The Gorse Fox and Trevor headed out for a walk. As he has recently had his hip done, he needs to get the exercise and build up the strength again, so the Gorse Fox took him on one of his usual routes.

The others took some bird seed and the children and went to the lake to feed the ducks.

While all this was going on, young Bec had gone to the pharmacy. She was a little concerned and needed to be checked. The pharmacist thinks she may have shingles. Hopefully she's caught it early enough that it isn't too uncomfortable.

Back home it was time for more teas, coffees, wines, etc. and to cut the cake. The Gorse Fox suspects he may have chosen the wrong size. After everyone had eaten one or helpings of the delicious cake, there is still more than half of it left. He suspects that we may be eating cake for a few days for breakfast, dinner, and tea.

By early evening people started drifting away. The Gorse Fox, the Silver Vixen and Cousteau-Cub cleared away and then settled down for a quiet evening - it had been quite a day!