Sunday morning and a bit of a thick head but not too bad considering. Helped considerably by getting to bed at around 9 pm the night before. Task now to pack for an overnight at sister Manda's and to take three carved pumpkins for the pre-arranged competition at sister Debbie's. (all sounds a bit Catholic so once all sisters are introduced I'll revert to first names). C-PAP...check...Kim's rainjacket...check...pumpkins....check...Reece woken from his slumbers....check.
Got on the road into the town centre by 0855 and then Reece fully ready and waiting collected got on the motorway for the short trip south down to Sarah and Stu's in Milton Keynes (full credit to Reece for rising sharply).
We arrived at Sarah's 10 minutes late after a diversion caused by a road closure and were able to spend an hour and a half sharing breakfast and catching up. At table, Sarah, Stu, Auntie Claudia, partner Alan, Reece, Kim and I. Lovely breakfast come brunch, bacon filled brioche, smoked salmon and Philly bagels, croissants. Alan a former Physics Teacher and all round nice guy; so nice to meet those people that now matter to family rather than just visualise. On that note very much looking forward to first sights of Debbie's and Manda's homes later in the day. Stu showed us his media room and I have to tell you this was the media room to beat all media rooms. 2 metre plus screen, blackout conditions and two seater home theatre rig with recliners. Surround sound it goes without saying; truly the cinema at home and PS4.
1105 and into the car, Kim, Reece and me and setting out South for Redhill via the M25. Due to arrive at Debbie's at 1 pm we pulled up with five minutes in credit. Debbie's place very nice; bijou I think is the right term. Today was going to be a real gathering of the clan. Franklin's, Millington's and a very special Compton.
Debbie excelled herself producing a wonderful Chilli and Rice; salad, Lemon Tort with Clotted Cream and fresh fruit. I was even treated to a little barrel of Hobgoblin Ale. I was also treated to a welcome package and a reminder of my childhood and teenage years. Matey Bubble Bath, Wrights Coal Tar Soap, Happy Families Playing Cards, Christmas Fruit Jellies and a Coughlan's Bakeries Cornish Pasty.
The afternoon was spent catching up on time passed apart but the general consensus was everyone just picked up from where they left off. It was as if we had not been apart at all.
Its hard relating the dialogue between numerous family members that are not always together so I'll let pictures do the talking. We had such a good day largely filled with the hysterics that families enjoy. Many a tear wept. Kim and I got so much please meeting Maisey, Joe and Harry for the first time as well. Nephew Sam and wife Sally seen for the first time in over five years. Sisters Nicky and Cherie to add to Debbie and Manda and we were five. In the back of my mind and I know my sisters minds our brother Mark who passed back in 2010; never forgotten and remembered particularly at a poignant time as this.
The pumpkin competition attracted many entries and quite amazing many. One particularly politically incorrect entry put up by the good doctor will get no further mention here, might be career threatening for him. The image is posted so you'll have to draw your own conclusions as to who it might be!!! Cousin Steve came to judge the competition and the rightful winner was definitely Nathan with the wolf baying at the moon.
Debbie is always one to have some kind of drama associated and here at Chaucer Court it proved to be the neighbour opposite at number 3...A dominatrix no less, with screams of torture and sightings of fabricated appendages oft catching the eye for those with the stomach to venture a stare. The landlord not being very helpful suggested that if Debbie didn't like what she saw she should perhaps not look.
It was a grand day all in all and Kim and I parted last to head to Manda's home in Wallington after dropping Nathan to his place also in Redhill. I had not seen Debbie's home before and left now with the image to accompany future communication. Arriving at Manda's it was only really getting there that I knew where we were and could easily get anywhere from there. Ross Road and lots of large semi detached properties. Manda's divided between ground floor accommodation and first floor. We watched some television, took a look at ornaments, pictures and furniture, all of which built a picture of the way we grew up from Coulsdon to Burnt House Farm to Smitham Lodge and much more. Kim was shattered and slept while we did a bit of X-Factor, a game show called would you lie to me and finally Posh Pawn where the rich get a bit of cash for sometimes valuable items.
It was then bed on the hide a bed which 12 years ago sat in Mum's apartment by the sea in Folkestone at Harbour Point. Reece slept on the floor.
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