The Summer Lunch returned to Ernest Morris’s home in Chesham Bois this year on Sunday 5th July
On the Saturday afternoon we erected the gazebos. There were only 4 of us this year, with Rose Edwards joining Colin Thomas, Lloyd Jones and David Powell to do the preparation.
Ernest’s garden was looking lovely with a large well-kept lawn to spread out on.
It was quite warm and we had difficulty preventing Ernest from doing the heavy lifting, but we managed to complete the task and get all the tables and chairs out before 6pm.
We then hoped that a stray wind wouldn’t blow them all down, as the catering tent needed quite a few running repairs.
Ann Tenant’s team arrived early on Sunday morning to prepare the food and dress the tables, and by 12:30 all was ready for the guests to arrive.
The weather was just right, warm with some clouds and a slight breeze.
This was a chance to catch up with old friends and quite a few new members too, and some people started reading the newsletters that were distributed among the tables.
Fewer people had signed up this year, with only 4 tables being needed, and by 1pm we were getting worried as not everyone had arrived yet, but as food was served, the remainder arrived – all apart from poor Jayne Pegler who had the day wrong!
Ann Evans welcomed everyone and thanked Ernest for the use of his garden, Kay Day for arranging the catering and the gazebo team for their hard work.
The food was lovely as usual, with ham, salmon, chicken and different salads. A wide range of desserts were on offer and it being Ann Tenant’s team – there were lots available to go back for seconds!
We have had the gazebo that we use as the catering tent for probably 15 years, but it was showing its age today, with one leg none too straight! Still, it had served us well for many years.
As the afternoon progressed, the clouds disappeared and the temperature started to rise, causing some on the sunnier side of the gazebo to transfer to the shadier spots of the garden.
Soon Ann was thanking everyone for coming and she presented Ernest with a bottle of wine as thanks for his hospitality.
As the tables were cleared we had quite a few volunteers to help put away the tables, chairs and gazebos as the temperature continued to rise.
Another successful Summer Lunch – thanks to all those who made it such an enjoyable day.
The advance party arrived at 9:30am to put up the gazebos in Ann Evans’ lovely garden, and as there were only 4 of us and we were dealing with a new gazebo, it took a bit longer than expected.
It was lovely to meet with old friends again. In total there were 33 of us, and, after mingling and greeting everyone, we chose which of the four tables to sit at.
provided us with a choice of chicken or salmon salads (or a combination of the two), and a wide array of desserts.
After the meal Kay Day thanked Ann Tennant for the lovely food and Ann Evans for coming to the rescue at the last moment with the offer to host the event.
Bright blue matching chairs and, cheerful garden flowers adorned the crisp white tablecloths. At this juncture, our thanks to the ‘flower girls’ as they were referred to. The guests had come laden with their own wine, fruit juice, beer and fizzy water and people on the tables introduced themselves. I maintain that Welsh is my first language and, was fortunate enough to be educated through the medium of Welsh from the age of 3 to 21. I was especially pleased to catch up with a few people who spoke Welsh and spent a while chatting to Bill Jones about the delights of Amlwch and Anglesey in particular!
Table by table, we were invited to the serving area, where the To Dine For ladies had set up a veritable spread. Our food had been pre-ordered, I had salmon, others had chicken and there was a vegetarian option, all adorned by a variety of salads, I have to say it was very tasty. We had olive and chilli bread, which you could wash down with the drink of your choice. Extra food was available if you wanted a top up. Chatter, covering a multiple of varied subjects, was constant. David Powell managed to pop round each group to photograph everybody deep in conversation. For dessert there was fruit salad, tiramisu, chocolate tart with lashings of cream, should you want it. To round off the meal tea and coffee were served with some lovely chocolate mints. All in all, I would say the afternoon was a massive success, everybody was pleased to catch up, after such a long time of being at home.
I would like to give a special mention to Ernest Morris, whose delightful garden we enjoyed and for the loan of the gazebos by Alan Longshaw. Thanks too to David, Gwyndaf, Alan, Peter Johnston and Colin Thomas for erecting these and, getting the furniture in situ; hopefully it was dismantled a bit quicker than it went up. Thank you very much to Kay for her organisational skills and making the afternoon such a success, we all know that these events, don’t ‘just’ happen.
A fine selection of able-bodied chaps gathered at Peter & Beth’s home on Saturday morning to put up the gazebos for Sunday’s Summer Lunch. The garden looked like a team of gardeners had been at work, but Beth assured us that they did all the work themselves.
discussion about positioning of the gazebos in the garden. It didn’t take too long, and by midday, we were able to sit under the canvas to enjoy a well-earned drink and biscuit.
Fifty of us mingled in the garden before being asked to collect our food provided by To Dine For Catering company. A number of very helpful young assistants served the food – a selection of salads, new potatoes, cold beef and salmon en croute with various relishes, and bread and butter. We had brought our own wine and glasses but water was provided on each table and refreshed several times because of the high temperatures. Desserts were equally delicious with a choice of pear meringue and fruit tarts. Later, coffee, tea and chocolates were served at the table.