Barbeque!!!

It was barbecue time again, last week and it was such a fun. Five families turned in, on the Sunday eve of the May first long weekend at our home in Cheadle. We were twenty six in total, including Amma(her first public barbecue) and three months old Akshay!

The day started bit gloomy and cloudy, as predicted by the forecasters the previous day. Saturday in fact turned out to be a sunny, albeit predicted, the other way around. What we fondly realise is that the weathermen or weatherperson, universally, are all the same, having evolved from one breed or weather clan.

Well, we actually planned the day well in advance, however, cancelled it few days earlier, as it became increasingly known and were told that it was going to be a wet, horrid bank holiday weekend. Well, kudos to me for changing the plans once again on Saturday lunch time, sparing not much time to spare for my better half or others to gear up to the event.

Anyway, lawns in front and back ( I mean the house) were neatly mowed; patio was groomed ; blooming flower pots for the patio moved in from Home base; orders made with friends for extra portions of chickens and prawns, especially on the skewers; a quick ferrying trip to Tesco, Morrison’s, and Indian shop was hurried on; a reluctant visit to the local farm for procuring the wood supply for the patio heater furnace; spotless cleaning of the newly laid conservatory and the furniture; toilets revamped and flushed ( four families for sleep over programme!!); boozes were off loaded from the shelves; Barbie cleaned and gas cylinder revamped; broken clay furnace thrown off, whilst the neighbours cast iron chimney, replacing it; My goodness, no wonder we were so knackered even before it started!

Hats off to Priya.

However the evening panned out to be a wonderful one with lots of food, loads of booze, Lorries of laughter, likable music (Ilayaraja as usual), lucky weather and our lovely friends.

Almost every one stayed for a sleep over, but for one family and the fun needless to say, continued till the Monday evening, culminating after a heavy lunch, as usual prepared by Amma and Priya.

Well, few mishaps here and there, fun frolicking, leading onto anxious faces and silent murmurings, especially with booze binges, as the evening went on; albeit, what can be better in life other than being surrounded, now and then, by your family and the friends you love and make an effort to live for the moment?

This sketch was actually done last year; now with some colours and there we are!!!