Sunday, April 29, 2007

A spring soirée

The day of what was to be M&M’s spring garden party dawned, just like in all the best books, bright and beautiful. I lay in bed, picturing it: nice things to nibble, jugs of Pimm’s, Amy Winehouse on the stereo and the sunshine casting an evening glow over the fields.

It was T-shirt weather when Mum and I left to drive along the A1 to the town up the road where it’s always at least two degrees colder. We wore jumpers just in case, but the glorious spring weather had made the temperature there more than commonly tolerable.

The town may suffer from a lack of warmth, but it makes up for it by stocking ‘posh’ food that only appears in the village during the summer to cater for the tourists. Rocket, radishes, couscous – and a dress – were duly purchased. After an internal tussle, I managed to tear myself away from the dragonfly fairy lights that would have sparkled so fetchingly in the tree.

But the weather, which had promised so much in the morning, withdrew its support. The sky turned grey, a chill crept into the air, and while the rest of the country basked in the heat, my plan of a party on the patio lay in ruins. The Pimm’s coped with the transition indoors and Amy Winehouse was exchanged for The Return of ‘Allo 'Allo on TV. I’m sure my plans for an outdoor spring soirée will return too – maybe next week…

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, eminem, my invite must have been lost in the post...[sigh]

Just as well you have been given a second bite at the cherry...

Anonymous said...

I am a tad concerned at your plans to put Amy Winehouse on the stereo..

Couldn't you borrow some extra chairs from next door for the occasion ?

Getting shards of plastic out of Amy's derriere following the breaking of the cover of the record player is not what your chums would want to be doing when they should be enjoying your party..

On the other hand...

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Record player, anon? I know this is Northumberland, but even we have CDs....

Yorkshire Pudding said...

..Thus proving the existence of an almighty deity. Such debauchery was planned! Pimms + Amy Winehouse - a devilish combination and so the Lord stirred the weather with his big godly wooden spoon - and the evil frolics were halted...

The Secretary said...

Pimms - do I get an invite!!!!

Gill said...

I hate to tell you how lovely it was over in Cumbria today...

I love dragonfly fairy lights btw

Linda Mason said...

Chilly for our early evening BBQ here in the English Midlands too but we warmed ourselves up with some bopping to sixties reggae.....various artists.

rilly super said...

M&M, 'and I would walk five hundred miles', although I'd probably just get hubby to drive me, for such a highlight of the social calender, that's how far it is to Northumerland isn't it? Will I be able to read about your soirée on wifey's blog dear, if you are a little too worse for wear to file your own report?

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

YP, at least I wasn't burning things like some people I coul mention ...

I would invite all my blogging buddies if I have another one, but look what happened at that MySpace party in County Durham ....

Welcome, secretary ...

Rilly, I live in fear ...
Gill and IMB, snot fair!

Anonymous said...

Early evening barbeque chez Sarnia today (in sunlight) and not a shred of rocket in sight (nasty, disgusting stuff).

Because in Gsy we are so much further south than rest of Britain I was surprised to note that Gsy was behind by a couple of weeks in the cherry blossom/forsythia/clematis blooming compared to bits of southern England that was in over Easter.

Arthur Clewley said...

soirées, Allo Allo, you'll be telling us that ferrero rochers have reached Northumberland next M&M! sirry to her about the wather - I'm sure we will be venturing north of the Tyne at some point this summer so sort it out before then M&M, there's a good chap

Me said...

All is not lost, there os always next week, indeed.

Brom said...

Frocks eh? Sounds like it's posh up North!

Twas a tad cool down here as well so the four walls of a pub were utilised. However Allo Allo did form part of the entertainment.

Zig said...

I want some dragonfly fairy lights!

I seem to have misplaced my invite too :o( - I promise to leave Freddie at home!

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Stop boasting all you 'orrible lot who had nice weather - of course, it has been glorious here today ..

It was only a miniscule soiree - so don't be offended dear blogging brethern ...

Karen said...

I too want the fairy lights - where can you get them from.

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Karen, I was looking at them in Woolworths but if you do a Google search, there are much classier ones available.

Karen said...

perhaps I have found something else to spend my £100 winnings on...