Family Time

Great excitement in our household today. The family was invited for a barbecue and they all came! How wonderful to see everyone together again and messing about in the garden or chit-chatting in the house. Mind you, I had forgotten just how much work goes into prepping a barbecue and getting the house and garden ready for visitors. It’s got to be over a year since we last did this – maybe more? We can’t actually remember.

But now I remember that there are chairs to put out, spare tables to arrange, food to buy and prepare, booze to buy and chill, the ‘party’ plates to dig out, meat platters to retrieve from the back of the cupboard and the posh cutlery to find.

The prep all went very smoothly – and then the family arrived. Fantastic – first it was Andrew, having driven over from Cambridge. Oh, my heart!! So lovely to see him again. He was relatively early so he did one or two things to help – like going up to Michael’s Drinks World to make sure the boys had enough beer for their afternoon TV viewing of the England match. An essential errand, of course.

Then the Sutton Sleaths, followed by the Kenilworth Sleaths, arrived – and we were ready for them. Still one or two bits to finalise, like actually cook the meat but nothing major. The Sutton Sleaths had brought their paddling pool with them so they spent the first half an hour setting that up and I had, foolishly, given the boys squirting guns, which they were thrilled to use on whoever happened to be in range. One or two of us were soaked. Good job it was a hot day!

The footie kicked off and those who wanted to watch it settled in the lounge. Unfortunately, there was still a lot of traffic through the lounge one way and another, so they weren’t able to watch in peace. Not only that, but the roar of approval when England scored frightened the wits out of Thomas, who began to cry. It’s never easy with a family is it?

The food was good and went down well – apart from with Freddie who, it transpires, doesn’t like barbecued meat, nor salad, nor potatoes….. I think he went hungry because a bit later on he was insistent that he was peckish. Oh, dear….

The afternoon whizzed past in a flash and within a minute of them arriving, it seemed, Danielle was suggesting the Sutton Sleaths go home as Thomas was getting tired. The paddling pool was emptied and folded away, shoes were put on and goodbyes were said. Gosh, I felt sad to see them go. I know we are seeing them regularly now, but the event finished far too early for me.

With the Sutton Sleaths on their way, the Kenilworth Sleaths also began to plan their departure. “As soon as this film we’re watching is finished, Freddie, we have to go.” So, not long after, they were also on their way, leaving me with another bout of melancholia.

Still, Andrew was still here and I looked forward to spending an evening chatting. Oh. The poor boy was asleep. Having worked until about half-past two in the morning last night and got up early this morning to drive over, no wonder. He slept, in fact, all evening and woke up about ten o’clock. I was out in the garden watering the plants when he came out to see if I’d like a cuppa. Don’t mind if I do.

So, a family day. Nice to be able to do that again, isn’t it? I pray it may continue and we are not restricted again.

• 7,490 people tested positive for the virus today
• 8 people died in the community with it
• 187 people were admitted to hospital
• And there are not stats on deaths in hospitals at the weekends, so we’ll wait and see how we’ve been doing when we see the figures tomorrow.

Hope everyone has had a great day today in the sunshine. Take care and God bless.