A picnic? Splendid

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That's exactly what I thought when the idea of a weekend picnic was first mooted. Turns out though, there were no scotch eggs in sight, nor were there lashings and lashings of ginger beer.

Luckily enough, it was even better an English afternoon beside the riverbank.

This was The Picnic.
Or the Pique-nique to give it the French name.

This is the big family event where everyone from the three branches of the family tree - Gould, Chiasson and Malenfant - get together for a three day party over a weekend in July. The weekend is whichever one falls closest to the birthday of Victorine Bourque, who was Emilie’s grandmother's Mum, and so the matriarch of the three families.

The old farm house in which Em’s grandmother Geraldine was raised is still on the plot of land in Cocagne where the picnic is held. There are three other cottages on the same piece of land, which are the summer cottages of Geraldine and her two sisters Maria Chiasson and Rita Malenfant. As you might have deduced, that makes Em’s family the Goulds.

The weekend is spent eating, drinking and messing about, and there’s a big horseshoe tornament that runs over the weekend. For the last two years I’ve been with Andrew ‘Iron-Arm’ Donovan. Both years we’ve lost horribly, coming up against much more dedicated, talented and sober opponents.

This year a film crew from CBC came along and interviewed people, including Em! They also interviewed Em’s great Uncle Francois, who’s 98! When asked what he eats to stay in such good shape, he answered with a cheeky glint in his eye, “Not too much.” The man’s a legend, and was cutting his own firewood during the snowy Canadian winters up to the age of 96!

The highlight of the picnic is the Spectacle, which happens on the Saturday night. This is where the kids all perform a talent, or a song, or whatever they want really. There’s always loads of good stuff, especially Eric’s guitar playing. This year the ‘fashion show’ was the finale, with all the men getting dressed in drag and strutting their stuff. Me included, as Lady Camilla. The best ‘guy’ though was Steve the bouncer, who came on in a pink dress and opened a beer with his teeth before sturtting off, slapping his ass.

After, there’s a bonfire on the beach, for those brave enough to attempt the dark, pot-holed path to drunken beach fun.
Anyway, it’s an awesome weekend and here’s the evidence.

Love to all the family
Love you,
Bye! x

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Photos

Em, Geraldine and Suzanne
Hat night. Memere gets a pass

The Goulds
Ginette, Donna, Greg, Danielle and Suzanne

Em gets interviewed
By a Belgian!

Comments

[greg]

nice pic
Good job on the photos and pique nique write up! See you all next year!