The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

greenbee

Bigjenny said:

I drank tea and could see all the shameful goings on, whens the next party so I can have my share of gin and join in.

Give us a chance to recover from this one... and for the poor waiters to forget... 

silvasava

Think we might need a few more waiters as there wernt enough to go round as some people were hogging more than one

monnagran

If it was me you were alluding to Silva, you couldn't be more wrong.  I had all I could handle with one I acquired.

Um.  Perhaps I could have worded that better.

MingVase

Well. I am shocked. I mean, I behaved myself! I didn't do anything!
that I got caught at anyway

mothernerd

I'd love a fry up. I have diet coke and diet decaffeinated, the one with caffeine is for times when I absolutely need a boost - yesterday I was fuelled by caffeine and ibuprofen. Party went well, we still have cake (although 3 of the grand-daughters are coming back to chat next week once their numerous offspring are at school - one of them hovered in the gateway because she was dropping off child number 3, going to 3 different food shops and then picking up child number 1).

On Friday night my main problem was that although the polytunnel would fit where I wanted it to be, to get it there (about eight yards in a straight-ish line) it had to go through a narrower bit which would mean partially dismantling and then re-building. I was wondering whether to stay up late (get some things done after mum went to bed) or wake up early - staying up all night is no longer an option (on my wedding day I was finishing making the buffet in the early hours of the morning and the noise of the mixer woke DS1 so at 5 am I was reading Thomas the Tank to him - so much for the bride getting  a good night's sleep).

Thankfully I awoke to glorious sunshine and had a rough order for doing things (small table outside for DS2 and his gf - they live in a different borough and can't go in someone else's garden until next week, dog bowl and spare water in case anyone brought any of the daft dogs, gate back against the wall with bramble in a box artfully wound around the latch and handle, garden table - tables and garden chairs were moved near to the back door and scrubbed on Friday night as the tables have been used in the polytunnel). Basically I started at the gate end and worked inwards.

It was slightly chaotic and people didn't arrive in the exact order I'd imagined but it was lots of fun, mum had a great time and everyone ate or took food away with them. I cut myself some slack and cheated like mad. I'd made up a set of marinades on Friday night but decided the early arrivals would have only just had breakfast (one couple arrived from doing their weekly shop and had had breakfast in the SM) so left cooking the meat until later. I'd done boiled eggs to make egg and peanut roll but gave 3 of the peeled eggs to the first guest to take home (her small boy is a fussy eater but he likes boiled eggs) and later on I cut a couple up and served them with vegan mayo thinned with a little lemon juice and paprika sprinkled on top. 

Busy morning with me making up platters (asked people to wait on the path so I could pop out of the kitchen door and put food down on the visitor's side of the tables before letting them take their seat whilst I collected mum and took her out the back through the patio doors to the other side of the tables. I held out a broom and guests put gift bags on the end of the handle for me to pull back to our side (they laughed and it's not absolutely safe but we didn't touch). I set up a cake platter on the bird bath just inside the gate with a note saying to take a piece home (again cheated with Mr K's sandwich box specials so people could pick without touching anyone else's).

Mum had a couple of phone calls from well-wishers too so it was lunchtime before we sat down inside with a trayful of food and mum got to open her cards and presents (third attempt). She asked about my card so I laid all the A5 letters (for the banner) out across the floor (she wouldn't have a nap on Friday or I'd have finished the banner and the proper card).

She said that 2 people would come at 2 pm, if they were coming, so I made those platters up ready and managed a whole half hour sitting down. I wore a mask and gloves all day, changing gloves after moving furniture and dealing with mayo and garlic. Put the potatoes on to cook (potato salad), put the meat in to cook, only one of the two possibles came and it was slightly earlier then expected but the food was ready. I went for another sit down and then went back outside to be sociable. It was getting colder so mum had her summer coat on (at lunchtime she was speculating on the looming clouds).

DS2 and his gf turned up shortly after and as promised they had brought their camping chairs and sat at the little table immediately outside the gate. Warmed the meat up in the microwave (it was all excellent but I only got to taste it after it was cooked - they wolfed it all). Lactose free platter was already prepared (read all the cracker labels - some ok some not and added frusilli bars and honey and oat bars as I didn't have time to research and make a lactose free cake (I know you can use the water from tinned kidney beans instead of the egg). First time we have been able to sit and have a proper chat - they have got together during lockdown and she is a doctor dealing with Covid patients all day so at first she waited by the car and we all smiled and waved, they went in the yard once to look at all my growing veg but mum and I stayed inside inside the doorway and had a long distance chat and they came inside when he was moving in with her and they delivered some shelves, a large leather storage pouffe and his fridge -freezer (they sold some joint possessions, gave some away - knew 2 people who were having to set up on their own from scratch) but we were all masked up. 

So lots of information exchanged, family anecdotes, album of photos of cakes mum has made in the past (3 tier wedding cakes and themed birthday cakes) and mum asked was he behaving himself and he has passed his house-trained and considerate boyfriend tests.  Another quasi grand-daughter arrived so we did a bit of social distance shuffling but she only did a flying visit (I didn't even get to give her food). It started to rain a little so umbrellas went up (asked DS2 to put the garden umbrella up as I couldn't manage it last time I tried) and they departed about 5 pm. Mum thought no-one else would come so she told me to lock up. We came inside, I made up tray of food with some new items (the food evolved during the day, so the party experience changed during the day).  I strung the birthday banner letters together and hung them from the curtain rail. Mum started to eat when an actual grand-daughter phoned and said she would arrive in about 15 minutes. So mum ate, I went back to the kitchen to put together a vegetarian feast, unlock and make sure all the chairs were all in the right places (as DS2 and his gf sat outside the gate, it was safe for us to come round to the gate side of the tables but we brought 'our' chairs). 

Cut the specially bought carrot cake (for niece and myself) and put two pieces in a plastic box for her to take home. She was going to the bus station to meet a friend (formed a social bubble as he lives alone) and possibly her bf (he hadn't yet got on the bus) but she stayed for about an hour and then directed the friend to come and meet her (she lives further along the canal, mum's house is only one street length down from the bridge) so he got extra cake and biscuits. I offered the niece more party food as her birthday is on Monday. So locked up again, did a quick tidy, ate my food. Mum went to start washing up, despite me saying I would do it. I went to dig out vases and deal with the 3 massive bouquets (thought I was going to have to use a pint glass for the overspill)).

I went to bed at nine. Read for a while. I didn't want to take more painkillers, always try to stay under the limit but it took a long while to become comfortable enough to sleep. Woke at 2.30 am but managed to get back to sleep after reading for a while. Woke at 5. 30 am, got some cough medicine and whilst I was in the kitchen I mixed the remaining pack of chicken into the marinade leftovers and took out the single frozen lamb chop to defrost (1 and a bit but the bit was only 2 bites big). Decided coughing fits were so bad that it would be more restful to sit up in bed and read. I have cooked the meat and we had it with chips and a frozen veg medley. Tea will be more bits or just cheese and crackers. Planning a mainly resting day, have already put all the rubbish in the relevant recycling bins.

Our party was loads of fun but if there is a hot waiter going spare (preferably the one with hot chocolate) send one my way. 

Remember when you get old, no-one can tell you what to do.

VJsmum

Wow Mother Nerd, that is exhausting just reading it!  WEll done you - you did your mum proud.

maryb

Mothernerd what a wonderful daughter you are!

MrsCD

Mothernerd, you deserve a medal!🏅🏅 or two! You are an amazing daughter, a STAR! 🌟🌟
Everyone will remember the day for years to come. Well done 👏👏
Now rest.

Nargleblast

Well done, mothernerd, you organised a fun party bearing in mind safety issues all the way. I hope you got to enjoy it too.

The Fence still needs reinforcing and painting for winter, who's going to volunteer?

monnagran

Mothernerd I had to have a sit down just reading about your day.  Well done you.

I'm not sure about helping with the fence strengthening.  I have a few crocheted Granny squares I could spare if it would help.