Garden Party in the Afternoon

 Yesterday I went to the Adult Education group's summer garden party which was held at the house of the Chairman.  As you will recall I resigned from the committee a year ago due to the dissertation writing which was followed by a bout of ill health.  In fact I had become disillusioned with the running of the group and I was at a rather low point at the time and needed little to push me over the edge to step away. 

A year has gone by and encouraged by my friend C who still goes to the group I decided to re-kindle my contact with them.   

I was made very welcome and saw old friends and made some new ones.  I was welcomed by the chairman and met the committee member who replaced me.  I spoke to old committee members and found that things continue as before confirming my decision to step away to be the right one. 

The afternoon was well organised with a jazz band to entertain, fresh cakes and sandwiches and lemonade and orange squash.  I was expecting that there might have been some Pims but no but it is good to see that a fine time can be had by all without the need for alcohol.  

On the day my friend C decided not to go.   She had been coming with me.   It was a very hot and sweaty day and she worried about being outside in the garden all afternoon.  We had left it flexible as to whether we went or not and either one of us we knew might back out.   As it was there was plenty of seating in the shade and cool areas.  The garden was a mass of shrubs in one area, low maintenance and cool and plenty of garden seats amongst the pathways and canopies had been provided in the open area where the jazz band played. 

I took one photo whilst the band set up which does not really do the setting of the house and garden justice.  The house is large with an added extension to the rear and is otherwise of Tudor brickwork to the front roadside.  The house immediately next door is 17th Century thatch.   The house had effectively two separate gardens which I would guess were the result of the extension.

By the end of the afternoon I was exhausted by the heat and basically doing nothing.  It is surprising how talking and listening and sunshine, sitting down and a few sandwiches can be so tiring!

I sat down when I got home and rejigged my day.  What I had planned for Saturday tea I no longer needed because I had eaten sandwiches mid afternoon.  I ended up with a late supper and read the papers and an early night.   I have just penned a thank you "note" email to the chairman for a splendid afternoon.