Joy and Barry decided to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversay, both their 50th
birthdays and have a house-warming all at the same time - well why not?
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Friday, 26th July 2002
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We arrived after 9 o'clock and, after putting up the tent in the garden, headed to The
Wheatsheaf and a cracking music session. In the thick of it is Baz (with the mouth organ)
next to his boy-hood hero (by the fireplace) Rod Stradling. This lot kept going 'til 2 in the morning. |
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This is Joy and Anne enjoying themselves in what space there was left in the pub. |
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Saturday, 27th July 2002
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This bundle of fluff, known as "kitten", was as well behaved as it was cute. |
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Also well behaved were all the other dogs, sheep, goats, pigs, geese, chickens (and probably many other animals which
I've forgotten) which kept us all occupied... |
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...while breakfast was cooked for us - alfresco. |
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By midday we had arrived at The Wheatsheaf again where The Ironmen danced in the car park... |
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...together with the Severn Gilders. |
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Inside there was another music session. Who's that by the fireplace again? |
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The Evening
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The barbecue was held in the yard. It was a very grand afair with home-grown goat on a spit,
and at least three other barbies for all the meat. There was even a vegetatarian's only barbie.
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The evening's entertainment started with some music-hall style numbers from Grand Cru et Al |
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Then His-Master's-Voice gave a speech. |
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And Taffy Thomas told a parable about a man who couldn't decide which of his three offspring
should inherit his farm. I'm sure Taffy doesn't usually suffer from so much heckling and he was finally upstaged
by the timely entry of two geese. |
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Then the ceilidh band started up. Every time we looked round, someone else had joined in - and their
notional fee had increased again! In the end I think we counted 18 musicians representing 9 separate bands.
Apart from the bass, it was all acoustic - and quite a sound. |
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Some of the 'girls' from Mobberley danced a hornpipe and young Gabriella raised a great cheer
for her sword dance - although we didn't actually have any swords to hand. |
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The band had an intermittent rest while we played musical chairs... |
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...and then musical statues.
Many were tired from the previous night's excess but the serious party animals
didn't get to bed until half past four in the morning! |
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Sunday, 28th July 2002
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In the real morning, the clearing up didn't take very long as many hands make light work. After another
alfresco breakfast some braved The Wheatsheaf yet again. The less sensible ones were outside taking
in the rather powerful sun. The others were having yet another music session inside. Erm, that wouldn't
be Rod again next to the fireplace? Yes it would!
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A good time was had by all. Many thanks to all who contributed their talent so freely
and also to Joy and Baz for organizing such a great do. Here's to many more years together.
I'm sorry if I have any details wrong - please let me know and I'll correct them.