27th July 2008
On Sunday 27th July, once again John & Rod opened their garden to the public and leading up to the open day many prayers were muttered, said and sang as the weather hadn't been altogether brilliant, and the last thing we wanted was a wet miserable day. Last year we had been extremely lucky in that the one good day just happened to be on the 5th August which was our open day then, and so while Rod was slaving away out in the garden week after week and night and after night, planting, re-planting, potting, digging, moving, removing, tying up and retying up after we had a strong wind, things were starting to look good and by the end of June we were thinking that the garden would look wonderful by the end of July, then the rain started again and day after wet day we were almost watered into non existence and the flowers stopped in their tracks. The pots and baskets were looking decidedly bedraggled and the open day marched ever nearer...... Then about the 20th of July the sun came out and beat down in the garden, everything dried up, the flowers coughed a little, smiled, and then started to bloom again, and in no time everything started to look nice, so much so that by the 27th everything was in great order and we were able to open the gates at 10a.m. with confidence knowing that everything was fine
.
5 lots of chairs and tables had been dragged out and positioned around the garden strategically for customers to sit and partake of Morning coffee or Afternoon cream tea.
Molly, Pam & Arthur tuck into a cream tea! It was so warm that the cream soon melted and they found that it was oozing everywhere and not before long they had it in their hair and ears and up their noses, it was a jolly good job that they had brought their hankies with them said Arthur!
The flowers were a real picture and fortunately looked quite good despite the poor weather they had had to battle through to get there.
Rod, Carol, Chris, Jane & Lee sat waiting very patiently for one of the many table waiters to bring their chocolate cake and cream teas. Fortunately the wait only heightened the pleasure they experienced when they first bit into their cakes. Chris moaned with pleasure as his chocolate cake slithered down his throat.
Brian and his daught.... er... sorry I mean wife, partaking of Morning Coffee!
The wonderful Gloria & Pete slaving away in a very hot kitchen, with the ovens keeping the scones warm and the sun beating in through the window, but Pete struggled through and managed to stay fully clothed throughout the day. He did want to remove the tiger from his back but we all agreed that he looked very dapper and it should remain that way..... and so it did.
Mr & Mrs Harwood hiding in the Pergola, hoping they would remain unseen while they devoured copious amounts of clotted cream with numerous scones & Jam while they waited for their clandestine meeting with Ms. Whitham at the station to take place, but alas they were spotted by an ever vigilant John and his camera with the 45inch lens..... Frieda was struck with horror once she realised that all was undone and she would have to come clean about the Clotted cream dribbling down her chin!!!!!
The customers can't escape quickly enough once they know that John is around with that monster lens!!!!
Right Girls, when we're seated we'll begin. Now! Who's for a scone with thick juicy clotted cream on?
Hidden away at the bottom of the garden, the girls tuck into a delicious piece of cake the only way they know how. with gusto! Yum Yum! they cried.
The children heard the thwack of rubber against coconut and came running to have a go themselves. Hoorah, they shouted, filled with glee, as yet another coconut bit the dust.
Meanwhile, Alex sits quietly in the sunshine, soaking up the rays, wondering when it will be his turn to win a coconut.
George takes no notice of the coconuts and manages to win himself a wonderful prize on the hoopla stall, the like of which he has never seen! Yippee he cried with great excitement.
Richard was in his element as all the Girls wanted to peruse his wares. It was the 'Ladies of the Night' that proved to be his biggest success!
Brenda tells the children a story while Mandy listens in thinking about her own childhood and the story of the 'Upside-down Pineapple Pudding that her mother told her!
Mmm, Who is this? Thought Rob, she could be the cream on my scone anyday!
Happily, Daniel gets the thumbs up from Sam as he secretly licks a cream dish clean!
The kitchen gang form a choir while Gloria is busy up to her arm pits in the washing up.
Under the pergola the ladies were very relaxed!
Margaret hides from the lens, but little does she know she has been spotted!
Mark gets greedy and has 238 goes on the Hoop La stall!
John was very pleased that nearly all of the 265 scones went to good homes. and most of the one and a half kilos of clotted cream found good scones to go to too.
So all in all a very good day was had by all and sundry,. The children who worked so hard running up and down the steps in all the heat seemed to enjoy themselves waiting on table. The customers who so freely gave of their hard earned cash seemed to enjoy the teas, scones, cakes and biscuits etc. The Pauline and Margaret on the entrance enjoyed relieving the customers of their hard earned cash as did Richard on the plants stall who did an excellent job with his green fingers. Peter & Gloria seemed to enjoy working like naavies in the kitchen washing dishes and preparing the teas and cakes etc.
A total of £261 profit was made for the Stagelights which will go towards costumes and makeup for which I would like to thank everyone who got involved in the whole event.
Well done and Bravo!