What a Weekend

"My idea of good company, Mr. Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed
people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good
company."
"You are mistaken," said he gently; "that is not good company;
that is the best."

Jane Austen, Persuasion

We had a lovely weekend in beautiful Somerset, visiting our friends the Beedles in their new home, to celebrate Elaine's birthday. Lunch in the courtyard overhung with bursting wisteria, a trailer ride to a low bank of the river Brue where the children could wade in up to their ankles / knees / waists, depending on their heights, a raging bonfire, and a mixture of old and new faces to keep the grown-ups amused.

Dinner was provided by caterers eager to prove their ability (Greg and Elaine intend to go into business running a wedding venue. They Will Be Recommending Caterers.) and was suitably delicious, and all the 'turns' (each guest had been asked beforehand to prepare a little amusement) went down extremely well. A couple of poems, a re-enactment of Waltzing Matilda, a lesson in Etiquette, and a couple of songs. ('Love Me Tender'. Jeremy on vocals, me on guitar, struggling with an F#7 / Bm combo.)

The next day held a tour of the Mill, and a visit to Stourhead for a walk and lunch, then home.

At least I'm fairly sure that's what happened. In spite of Elaine's repeated urgings to the contrary, I had provided margaritas for the pre-dinner drinks. The good thing about this for me was that, being a person who gets intoxicated extremities first, the fact that I had forgotten my fancy shoes and had to spend 45 minutes outside in stockinged feet mattered not at all.