The title does not refer to the weather today but to the main event.
(The weather was fairly grim. The morning was awfully wet, as the night before had clearly been. There were poodles in the car park.)
My whole reason for travelling up here was to celebrate the 60 years of marriage enjoyed by Peter and Freda. And that was what we spent the afternoon doing.
The day started with heavy rain. Ominous.
We had been warned that breakfast would be busy, so we were there at the start and were not inconvenienced by the hordes from the festival at Temple Newsam. The costume de rigueur, especially for the bigger attendees, female ones, was fish net tights, carefully masking tattoos except where big holes had been ripped. Lots of plump legs on view. Neon coloured hair added a certain je ne sais quoi. They were a good humoured bunch of people.
Next up, posh clothes donned, H and I set off to investigate Farnley Park as a walk venue. It was a 3 minute drive from the hotel and offered really sensible walking opportunities and trails. Trouble was – the rain. It was heavy, the ground was wet and I was saved by a text message. This suggested taking H to Calverley (to Peter and Freda’s where family were staying); Dave would walk both dogs, and we would leave for the venue together.
Minnie and Heidi greeted each other with excited affection, dashed around the garden and were kept in the utility area before and after their walk.
Calverley is in lovely countryside on the edge of Leeds and the drive from there to Drighlington Manor offered great views and several golf courses.
The actual celebration included about 60 people, a wonderful carvery/ buffet and great company, mostly of a certain age. Attendees of less than a certain age , were mostly family and of very different generations.
Peter and Freda and their three sons: Paul, Dave and Martin from left to right.
It was a very very nice occasion and we were back at the house just after 6.00pm. The dogs were happy that people had returned, and after about half an hour, Heidi and I took our leave.
The hotel was almost devoid of people. The restaurant was closed this evening, not that I was hungry after the amazing buffet lunch. So H and I hunkered down for the night. Home tomorrow.
Thought for the Day
All those people who spent time in prison / committed suicide / lost life savings…
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