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2008 - May 4th - Sunday

This morning Kathy told JH that swimming was not on the schedule, as Kathy was really having to make an effort to ‘wind herself up’ (JH’s words) but, then, we had been swimming two mornings running – and JH usually only goes swimming once a week when at home.  And Ralph was in ‘Sunday morning gear’ as well.  Anyway, we set out for Burnham-on-Crouch to call on Bill and Pic – arriving for rather late ‘morning coffee’ (or something stronger) – eventually.  The Bill Hipseys’ bungalow, from a certain angle, was almost hidden by a profusion of flowers and shrubs in their garden borders: if the path had not been concrete, one would have needed a machete to get through!  In fact, all the East Anglian countryside was radiant in the sunshine; even the busy arterial road borders were decorated with a profusion of wild flowers, gorse, and feral garden bloomers.


 

As JH walked into the garden she could not avoid noticing an array of hippos awaiting her inspection on the patio table.  JH was told that she could have any of them, because Martin, Stephen’s and Susan’s younger brother, felt he had ‘outgrown’ his collection of hippos.  There were about 20 – about half of which JH recognised as being duplicates of, or very similar to, some hippos already in her collection; the pedigree of every one on offer was inspected carefully; there was even a musical instrument - a blue hippo-head castanet!  Ultimately, a box was produced from under the table for JH to pack the hippos in, so that the Skinners could bring the box with them, when they visit JH at the very end of June.

We walked down to the White Hart Hotel on the river front for a drink; we passed Martin’s bike ‘moored’ nearby and Bill stuck a small picture thereon - of a Hippo out of JH’s purse (which was actually a picture cut out of an advert for incontinence pads) to mark our passing.  The sun shone and everyone was out and about, and happy – sailing, walking, gazing, eating, drinking, chatting, fishing, ‘exercising’ dogs, manning a stall in aid of RNLI . . ..   The wooden pier, to access the ferry over the river, had been renovated since Anne Dunk and JH had spent their cycling holiday in East Anglia in 2000, and taken their bikes over to Wallasea Island, whilst Edwin (from Canada) had waved good bye to them from the pier: he and his wife Sheila were staying in the White Hart.   JH was heard to ask if the pub, in which the assembled company were planning to eat lunch, had a cut-off time for serving: we went across the main road to the pub, arriving at 2.29pm, ie, with one minute to spare.  As they were so busy we had lunch at about 3.15pm: JH went for something different – whitebait - which was delicious.

The Skinners, together with JH, had been invited to a 50th birthday party: a ‘must do’ event.  We were expected to arrive at the local venue at 6.00pm, which allowed us time to visit the Huntsman and Hounds at Althorne, and have a recap with the Landlord about the Millennium Reunions which the Hipsey Clan had previously held there.

We also called into The Star at Steeple: JH looked at their accommodation, which was housed in a chalet-type block of bedrooms just outside the main building; JH then booked to stay for the Millennium Reunion Weekend, 21st to 24th August 2009 inclusive.

JH subsequently booked for 6 nights for the 2009 Millennium Reunion: 20th to 25th August 2009 inclusive.  Anne Dunk has also booked to come, and will be sharing a twin room with JH.  The Elfleins are also planning to come.  [Subsequently, JH learnt that Walter was not planning to come with Ann on this occasion.] 

In the evening JH went to an (almost) Wild Party!  Fay, a friend of Kathy’s from when the latter worked in the hospitality business, ie, in a pub, celebrated her 50th birthday in fine style.  Fay lives with her present partner in a renovated farmhouse, next to which is a barn for holding barn dances – supposedly – but JH admits that (even when we arrived at about 6.00pm) the music playing on ghetto-blaster equipment was not quite to JH’s taste in music, and also militated against having a conversation with anyone unless one shouted directly into an ear!  However, it would be churlish of JH not to be delighted with her unusual experience, after being grasped by the hand by Fay, and being told that JH was a ‘magic’ lady (or was it ‘tremendous’) to give K a K!  Actually, it did get rather chilly, and so the somewhat more mature couple to whom JH was talking were offered a seat indoors, and a hot drink.  But JH was amazed to observe Charlie, Fay’s 17-year old daughter walking about in a smashing white, flimsy, short sleeved party dress – however Charlie did change into jeans before the dancing began. 

Charlie’s mates were manning the drinks corner; every now and then there was a crash, as bottles were thrown in the bins collecting the recyclable empties; non-alcoholic drinks were available – which is just as well, as JH had studied the small print about Zanidip more carefully, and had been warned-off alcohol almost completely (which was no hardship).  K had informed JH that Fay was not the world’s best cook but Fay did, of course, have many helpers, and a sumptuous buffet was served at about 9.30pm, consisting of four enormous joints of a cold-meat carvery, bowls of every salad one could think of, hot sausage rolls, cold pork pies, salmon, nutty dishes . . . and all the rest.  Unfortunately, the chocolate fountain would not run down its pyramid properly, but this did not put off the punters from dipping chunks of pineapple, strawberries . . . and the rest, into the slow chocolate!

Afterwards, Fay gave a short speech: she was introduced by the compeer in charge of the proceedings, and also of the ghetto-blasting, which he turned down.  At this point JH asked K as to when ‘Happy birthday to you’ was going to be sung, upon which incentive, K started up the singing – and so stole the compeer’s thunder; however, this rearrangement of the agenda was met with great good humour by everyone.  As Fay said, although she had made mistakes in her previous 50 years, (such as having a failed marriage) she now had a daughter, and two stepsons, and a partner . . . and the rest, which made up for her mistakes, because everyone around her were all such super people, and life with friends and family was just so worthwhile (paraphrased by JH)!

The volume of the ghetto-blaster was then turned up, and – by the time K, R, and JH were thinking of going to their beds – crowds of dancers (not just the youngsters) were taking to the floor.  JH’s head could not take any more NOISE and so she migrated indoors, where she met a lady reclining on the sofa, and to whom JH apologised for her (JH’s) retreat from the fun of the party: however, Fay’s and Kathy’s reclining long-time friend assured JH that the latter need not apologise at a celebration such as this, for ‘doing her own thing’ - JH should just be herself.  Tricia explained that she taught English: the ensuing conversation could be easily heard by each participant as we had both opted off the dance floor!

Also at the party were two dogs, and a horse!  One aged hound, which was possibly a long-haired terrier, was on a lead when first met - the AH having to be led about for exercise rather cautiously, in view of him being virtually blind; if not on a lead, he glued his nose to the heels of Kay’s mother-in-law.  The other hound was a demented collie cross, who spent all his time chasing his four white paws round and round in circles.  {Anne Dunk subsequently told JH that dogs should be discouraged from doing this, as then can drop dead, but the demented hound was very much alive at 10.30pm when we left.}  The extremely handsome horse – on which Fay has won many a rosette – neighed over the fence at passing punters, and consequently received many strokes of the nose, complimentary praise, and no doubt many tastes of the festive fare!


 
 
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