Le Weekend

A bumper weekend!

We had been plotting. And it was serious. Michael wasn’t to know. ‘Keep it under your hats, folks,’ was the message. A surprise gathering of the clan on Saturday afternoon to say ‘well done’ on his PhD achievement.

“You know Michael wanted to go on safari, don’t you? And we can’t now. Well, how about we bring the safari to him? At your house, Anne and John?” said Danielle. As always, I am game. I love a party. But a safari? Doesn’t that involve tons of sand? How about a jungle experience instead? So that’s what we did. Dressed the lounge and dining room with a jungle theme (ish) and invited the Sutton Sleaths over along the very casual lines of, “How about popping over at lunchtime? Come for a bit of TLC, now you’ve finished and can relax?” And so it was agreed.

The rest of the family gathered in excitement and planned their hiding place, so that they could leap out at just the right moment and shout, “SURPRISE!” Christiana texted from what had become a ‘car park’ on the M40, to say she was still about half an hour away….. ah, well, it’d be a double surprise, wouldn’t it, when she eventually turned up!? And she had to turn up because she had made the celebratory cake.

The Suttons Sleaths arrived. Michael grinned widely as he went into the hall where a very large banner above the doorway proclaimed its ‘Congratulations! Dr Michael Sleath!’ and then a sub-heading sprawled across the doorway, saying: “Dr Livingstone Sleath, I presume?” He looked chuffed that we’d done something. And then he walked into the lounge….

It’s not the greatest picture but it really was quite atmospheric. And, of course, the kids were in their element charging about in between the vines hanging down, and the animal balloons floating about. Michael responded affectionately to the scene with his trademark, “Heh, heh, heh!! You silly sods!” We know he is pleased when he says that.

Andrew was on hand with the champagne (and did a sterling job all afternoon topping up my glass); John made a speech; we all toasted the successful student; and then piled into the dining room for food. Well, not quite all of us at once – Paul took Andrew out for a drive in the Mustang, and Andrew came back flattened and out of breath by the G-force. The dining room tried to be as best it could on a jungle theme with an archway of balloons that Danielle had laboured over on Friday.

We tried to get a family photo but it was a bit like herding cats, so here’s one of the newly-qualified Dr Sleath and family, minus William who was off playing with Freddie. Thomas clearly wanted to share in the toast…..

And there was cake….. Christiana is the best cake-maker I know (apart from her Mum, that is) and she once again came up trumps. Cool cake, eh?

So that was Saturday! Phew! Andrew, The Sutton Sleaths, Christiana & Alexander, and Freddie all stayed over while the rest of the Kenilworth Sleaths went home.

This morning, there was a lot of wriggling in our bed at about six o’clock. Two little boys, awake and out of the bed they’d been sharing, ran through to us and clambered in. Michael had heard them and came in to tell them sternly that it was too early to be awake and they had to do some more sleeping. Well, that was a relief. John and I were very keen to do more sleeping, but not so keen on kicking the children out. Their presence, even at that time in the morning, is a such a delight and a blessing.

We sort of slept on. The wriggling ceased for a bit, then the giggling began. The boys were holding hands – ‘Oh, how sweet!’ – across my face. “Erm, boys…..leave go, please.” More giggling and wriggling. We lasted about an hour when John thought he’d trundle them downstairs and feed them some breakfast. I determinedly kept my eyes closed for a while longer. After all, I had had a lot of champagne yesterday.

On the topic of cake, you may recall that John had had a catastrophe the other day, tipping one he’d made all over the floor? Well, he didn’t give up and, to be honest, I think he has given Christiana a run for her money because here is the triumphant replacement, sent on its way to William’s birthday party this morning. Upon seeing it for the first time, William said: “Wow! That is my cake. Wow!” He was absolutely thrilled. Well done, Grandpa.

An absolutely cracking weekend. All of our boys home and together. Beautiful wives, grandchildren, cousin/niece and great-nephew in the mix. Wonderful, thank you very much.

COVID news tomorrow folks. There are too many happy memories of the weekend to sully them with doom and gloom.

Take care everyone. God bless.