Pup Quiz, Full Contact Water Polo, Pork and Talk

Wakened by the Rooster on Saturday, I was the first to surface, place the kettle on the Aga and catch up this Blog before the house also rose to meet me.  Remarkably, another beautiful October day presented outside; the crisp dewiness with sunshine promising to burn through later.  Since landing at Gatwick we have only seen three days of inclement weather and one of those was the overnight rain storm all done and dusted by morning. 

 

The house was in full swing by midday as the last risers emerged.

By this time the ladies had swum avoiding the hooligan element that is male testosterone, and full contact water polo and handball with synchronised drowning.  It was a good call by the ladies, and definitely swimming with decorum.  Marcus and I followed them before pulling over the covers and putting the pool and steam room to bed for a siesta.

The conversation in the lounge was enlightened and enlightening, light and heavy as between us we dismembered all right and wrong in the world as we saw it.  Brunch was sensational and just another prompt for diet once back in Canada.  I had forgotten how good plum tomatoes tasted and leaving back bacon behind is going to be tough.

The family then broke off into a range of different activities.  I to the computer to help construct a small animal boarding business website for Sal, The ladies and Stef took up dog walking; George his traditional weekend activity garden maintenance.

Kim and Stef had some face time together to catch up and cook.  More reconnecting and recharging of spirits going on, so good.  We know we need this to sustain us in Canada until the next time.

 

The last members of the weekend gathering Reece and Emma were expected mid afternoon and eventually arrived around 5pm apparently after heading towards a place called Graham.  Cause a smile as Grantham was the actual place.  Think I like the new name better.

Reece was unable to get his car in the drive at the Rings and initially parked on the road until strategically placed planks allowed him to raise his low skirts above the flat lying rising bollard. So hugs all round and conversations picked up from where they were left a few years before.  Emma introduced to family settled into the banter quickly.

 

Another manic male swimming session washed the walls and ceiling in the pool room and a very patient George waited out the tsunami and the frantic exchanges including wholesale violence that accompanied the ‘tread water’ handball.  Dimi very kindly dumped Thea into the pool fully clothed.  That might have had something to do with her hiding his Rum earlier after an ASDA shop.  The ASDA shop another foray for supplies.

More chatter and natter preceded a wonderful family supper of Roast Pork and all the trimmings, hysterical laughter accompanied the eating and it did degenerate slightly in the nicest possible way.  We did all laugh.  George slected his best garb for dining and was directed back to the bedroom to change; so funny.

 

 

Leading up to this evening we had a competition designed to achieve four things:  first we needed a posh name for Ozzie to go on his Pedigree Lineage, second one for Coco for the same reason.  Third we decided it would be healthy to have a sweepstake to determine litter size, gender and colours of the pups once they finally agreed to join us.  Fourth, we needed a small business title with a bit more zing than The Rings Small Animal Boarding.

 

It was fun and entered into with the right spirit by all 10 house guests.

The small business winner although totally un-usable in real world was from Reece.  If Carlsberg did Pet Holidays the Rings would be the best holiday in the world.  Second from Emma, All things Bright and Beautiful all Creatures Great and Small, has great strap line potential.  Sal’s Brilliant Boarding House, Stef’s offering came in third.  I think the actual name will emerge from combined research into the ten entries so a worthwhile exercise.

The entries for Ozzie’s nom d’aristocratique were outstanding.  Proved to be really tough for the voters to choose.  Three entries tied third and these were: The Prince of Darkness II, Shot of Ouzo; and Oswald Rotherham Dimitriou.  In second a wonderful play on words, Master Ozzi-One Kenobi.  The winner and a right regal offering was Oswald Etienne of Haddington.

Coco’s nom de plume also prompted some fine entries.  In third place, Coco Doodle Doo raised a laugh.  In second, the Countess of Monte Coco but the winner Lady Coco Chanel just edged it.  Interestingly two entries were very close here.  We had a Queen Coco Chanel as well.

The Pup Quiz awaits birthing and news here soon…..

Our night ended in the lounge with a coal fire blazing, liqueurs and Lee Evans and more hysterical laughter before in dribs and drabs the lightweights ahead of the heavyweights sought slumber.