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Published: December 30th 2008
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After a good day on Boxing Day, December 27th was a quiet affair. The wider family was on its way so there was tidying up to do, general motherly fussing about the house, but no big deal. Some general pottering about, and then cousin Richard and wife Deborah, and Aunty Lynda and Uncle Robert all turned up.
After dinner we headed for the Georgian Theatre - one of the oldest functional theatres in the UK and a tiny little place - to see Sleeping Beauty. Whilst the Georgian is blessed with a great atmosphere and the play was great, the seats are absolutely lousy and it was really very uncomfortable.
But there were pretty young girls in frocks, grown men dressed as women, overly made up baddies getting the audience involved….it was all good fun, I enjoyed it much more than I was expecting.
John and family had driven down from Edinburgh, and he met me, Richard and Deborah in the Buck after the show. He was in good form, burbling for Britain, I think he’d had 1 or 2 while we were in the theatre and it was great to see him after 5 years. Poor Richard
and Debs dealt with his babble for a while then called it a day, leaving the 2 of us to put the world to rights for a while until last orders, an event which now seems to happen much later than it did last time I was here.
The 28th was the day of my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary, bless them, and they were throwing a party. Rather a lot of people turned out, packing their house with people, many of whom I’ve known my whole life and some who hadn’t seen me since I was a kid. They got a shock! We all had a really good day eating, drinking and chatting. I had a great time catching up with all kinds of people, and also with Nell and Lilly, John and Maggie’s kids. I met Nell when she was 1, Lilly wasn’t born last time I was here and they’re now 6 and 4 and lots of fun, a couple of little sweeties.
My Dad toasted my mum, they cut a big cake together, everyone got into various states of drunkenediness……….A good day had by all I think, topped off with Match of the Day, a
Nell and Lilly
Crazy ladies........my shins still hurt! summary of the day’s football matches and the TV show I’d missed more than any other. Brilliant.
My folks chose to hold their party on the same day as Darlington’s only home game while I was here, which I thought was a bit of a shame. Turned out to be a 0-0 draw with Chesterfield, so I didn’t miss much at all.
Monday, John and Maggie (with kids) were still around but my old mate Adam came up to Richmond for the day, together with Fiancée Sam and lively young puppy Benson (no, not as in Benson and Hedges, apparently). Adam’s been a bit of a loner for a long old time so it was great to see he’s bagged a young sheila, 27 no less so a very young sheila. He’s done well, she’s a nice girl, and they reckon they’ll get married mid 2010 so that could be my next trip home to England. We had a nice walk around the town then headed for John’s Mum’s place and had tea with the Mowbrays. Seeing John’s Mum completed the set, I’d managed to see all the Mowbrays during my trip (remember Alison who I bumped into in London, then Cath a few days ago, John Maggie and the girls yesterday and finally Mum today…….) - all good.
We had a nice day wandering, and in the evening they fled back to Wakefield and me and my folks were left to have dinner and a glass of wine. Monday night was ‘Investment club’ night but whilst I wandered down to the town with Dad and his mates I met up with John and Maggie again and spent the night chatting with them in the pub.
My stay in Richmond is over tomorrow - at 6pm I’m on a plane from Manchester to Frankfurt then another to Bangkok, homeward bound to Sydney. I’m 5.5 weeks into my trip, and it’s drawing to a close, which is a bit weird after so long but I guess I’m about ready to get back to Sydney and my flat now. I actually wish I was going straight through to Sydney, but I’m sure I’ll survive Thailand.
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