A busy weekend
It was Barry’s birthday
on February 3rd, a significant decade marker. He was born on the day
Stalingrad fell during the Second World War, though some authorities have it as
February 2nd.
We had a gathering
of the clan on Saturday and were only missing a few members. The oldest was, of
course, Barry, and the youngest, Luca, four months. There were seven under elevens,
eight in their twenties, eight forty to mid-fifties and two over seventy. We also
had three visiting dogs to add to our two. If everyone had brought their dogs
there would have been twelve in the house, rather too many and too much of a
trip hazard!
Since Jellicoe is
now an honorary Labrador, we had to shut him and his brother away in our
bedroom, otherwise he would have wrought havoc in the dining room, where food
was laid out on the table. Ariella, nearly two, and Jack, four, both love cats
so had a special trip to the bedroom to see Jellicoe and Herschel. The cats
were worried and wide-eyed at being shut out from proceedings.
We had opened the
double doors from the sitting room into the dining room so that people could wander
in and out at will, helping themselves to whatever took their fancy. Susannah took
control of feeding people and Callum was in charge of drinks. Barry and I relaxed
and enjoyed catching up with our extended family.
It was lovely to
have such a crowd of young people in the house, and so many of them very tall! The young adults were as amusing and
entertaining as ever and the little children were each caught in their own egocentric
worlds, and equally entertaining.
It is rare for us
all to get together and each time we say we must do it more often, but life is
busy. The next organised occasion will be Susannah and James’ wedding later
this year, in November. We are all looking forward to that.
My family meetings are very easy, we are three and one cat ! Toby had two guinea pigs but they died last year. As they live in Amsterdam in a new community, all houses stick together and are like towers ! he has 4 floors very practical not to receive the now getting older family ! Marieken's father is too big (round) and has to remain in the kitchen he doesn't fit anymore in the staircase leading to the sitting and dining room. The kitchen is besides the entrance with a toilet. And then you climb and climb until the 4th floor where the washing machine and dryer is. And Darios office. Sitting in the living room you have to go either one floor up (where the bedrooms are) or one staircase down besides the kitchen ! Besides that you have the see 5 min far and all young people. My couple is old they are both starting the 50th. My mother's birthday was on Feb 2nd but in 1918 ! No Stalingrad yet !
ReplyDeleteThe house sounds designed for younger people - not very accommodating for older people.
ReplyDeleteI love it when the entire family gathers at our house or outdoors for a barbeque. I laughed out loud at your comment on my blog about dancing with the boxer. Happy birthday to your dear one.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda - it's always good to get together.
DeleteWhen we visit England later this year, my partner's family will all gather for a pub meal and they haven't all been together since the the last time we visited, four years ago. I'm glad your family birthday catch up went so well. It sounds like a fun day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrew - it was. I hope yours goes well, too.
DeleteI try not to hold big gathering's at our house. Try to make sure the kids host them as their houses have toys to keep the grands busy!! Plus I prefer the mess be in their house rather than ours!!
ReplyDeleteGood thinking, Gill :-)
Deletewhen we have a family gathering that is me and the kids and their partners, we go to the Botanical Gardens and picnic. Any larger gatherings are held at a daughter's house where she has a couple of acres for spreading out.
ReplyDeleteA couple of acres sounds good. We think we're doing well in this country if we have half an acre (and we haven't!)
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of this and the fact you can open doors to extend into other rooms x Souds a bit like our house - still wondering about te tiles for the kitchen! Possibly go for tongue and groove xxx
ReplyDeleteOur house was open-plan and we set about dividing it so that those who wished could isolate themselves, without having to go to their rooms. Choosing tiles is difficult, isn't it? I'm sure you'll find the right solution.
DeleteOur family get-togethers are rare also, but maybe that makes them more memorable and enjoyable. It sounds like you all had a wonderful time. Belated birthday greetings to your husband :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenny. It's true that rarity makes an event more memorable. We did have a lovely weekend :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you had a lovely time! Family gatherings are the best!
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed!
DeleteHi Janice - congratulations to Barry ... we're living 'good' lives - and able to appreciate the lives we've led ...January was mine, both my brothers, my uncle and some cousins and my mother's mother are all in this month. Over the years we've all had gatherings for various reasons - and they are the best. It sounds like you had the best time ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteWe always feel 'we must do this more often' but time passes. I don't want to reach the point where we only meet at funerals!!
ReplyDelete