It is not over yet but this has been one of the loveliest English summers that I can remember. So many warm, sunny days. Swallows on the wing and ripening brambles in the hedgerows. There's a hosepipe ban and reservoirs are depleting but I am not complaining. This lovely summer has gone on and on. Currently, we are on the brink of our fourth official heatwave since the start of May.
Yesterday, Shirley's extended family converged on the North Lincolnshire village of Amcotts where her Auntie Marion lives. She had created the most wonderful and wholesome buffet with home-cured ham, tender beef, fresh salad, homemade quiches, lasagne made from scratch, rice and pasta and beautiful homemade desserts including cheesecakes, fruit salad, strawberries and Bakewell tart. All so delicious.
As I said to Auntie Marion before we left... "If only all buffet meals were as special as this one." Once again she had done a sterling job of it all.
We ate and drank outside and I chased Phoebe and her half cousin Winnie under the big two hundred year old copper beech tree. Then they sat upon me - The Grandpa Bench and we laughed as though there would be no tomorrow.
Gunness Wharf by The River Trent near Amcotts
Back home plums hang upon our little Victoria plum tree in rude bunches - so sweet and bounteous as butterflies dance upon the breeze and black and yellow wasps threaten unwanted inoculations.
On Friday evening, I walked up The Limb Valley - through the trees and out into the sunshine before schlepping up to "The Norfolk Arms" at Ringinglow. There I enjoyed a pint of "Stones" before the fifty minute walk home - all the way down Ringinglow Road and then left at Dobbin Hill. At least it was all downhill so I didn't need to rest once. Just kept walking. All the way down.
Family gatherings are great especially when there's silly grandfather around. Summer is even nicer when you get good weather the whole season through.
ReplyDeleteHow dare you call me "silly" Red!
Delete"The Grandpa Bench," LOL!
ReplyDeleteWinnie sat nicely on The Grandpa Bench but Phoebe would not stop rocking around!
DeleteThr best part is that such a lovely summer will live on forever in the memories of the people who were there for it. You and your children and Phoebe. How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWe don't really get the oppressive heat of summer in America's Deep South. We embrace our warmth like an old friend.
DeleteIt's still in the 90's here but we did have a bit of a shower around midday.
ReplyDeleteDid you and Judy get in the shower together?
DeleteThe family get together sounds idyllic. Your description of this summer is why I love living in England.
ReplyDeleteI love the unpredictability of our weather Debbie. We never know what we are going to get.
DeleteI agree YP. It's the best summer ever.
ReplyDeleteIt's 27 degrees C here as I write this reply. Luvvly Jubbly!
DeleteIt might be pleasant " up north" but it has been far too hot for me at times " down south" . Not looking forward to the next couple of days..luckily I don't have to do much, just sit in front of a fan when it gets unbearable!
ReplyDeletePeople go on about the summer of '76 being very hot. We were in Northumberland then (Travelling 15 miles to work by train in Newcastle )and I don't remember it at all......but then I was much younger!!
Sitting in front of a fan? How many fans have you got Frances and is the fan you are referring to male?
DeleteLife is good in the Land of Pudding.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we have to remember to register the good days when all is hunky dory.
DeleteSit on grandpa, by the sound of it. It's nice that Mrs YP's aunt is still cooking up a feast.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't drink Stones Green Ginger Wine, I hope.
Yuk! I would never drink that Andrew!
DeleteWhat JayCee said.
ReplyDeleteIs she your twin?
DeleteIt has been a good summer and wonderful for family get togethers. Do so envy you the Victoria plums, sweet and succulent, the best plum on the planet.
ReplyDeleteSome years we get very few plums but this year the fruit hangs heavy.
DeleteAuntie Marion must have been preparing this sumptuous buffet for days! I hope she had some help (although I must admit I much prefer being on my own in the kitchen, and especially afterwards when it comes to claring tables and stacking the dishwasher etc.).
ReplyDeleteAs nearly every year, we've been lucky with the weather for our Yorkshire holiday. What little rain we had did not bother us or upset any plans. On our trip back yesterday, we started out at 14C in the morning waiting for our train in Harrogate, crossed in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est at 34C and arrived in Ludwigsburg at 10:00 pm German time at 22C.
I am glad you made it home safely Meike. Auntie Marion used to cater professionally for weddings so she knows what she is doing.
DeleteSounds delightful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely summer you've had.
ReplyDeleteAuntie Marion will always have to host those gatherings if she keeps putting out meals like that!
ReplyDeleteI love kids' sense of absurdity like the grandpa bench. Then get so much pleasure out of things like that. Just watch- they'll want to have a grandpa bench every time they see you when they're together.
I love the picture of the horses.
It is beautiful but it is awfully dry. I personally would have liked a few more rainy days.
ReplyDeleteAs late as the 1960s, my dad's firm had customers at Amcotts. At Haldenby Hall there was a large bell that had once been used to call farm workers to a room with a long table where they ate their meals. Board and lodgings were once provided as part of their wages.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with Auntie Marion and the buffet spread she put out! I've never done a buffet like that! We celebrated this weekend with Italian beef sandwiches from a local restaurant. My kids ordered that and brought sides and cake to celebrate my 75th birthday. It was a nice gathering and I am enjoying the quiet this afternoon!
ReplyDeleteA lovely post.
ReplyDeleteEventually it will rain and the rivers will be running to the sea.