A couple of weeks ago the Old Bat received a letter. It was actually addressed in the old-fashioned, formal manner to "Mrs B S..." - my initial rather than hers. Inside was a printed card which read simply,
Mrs Robin W...
At Home
followed by a handwritten date and time. There was an address for a reply printed in the bottom left-hand corner.
We happen to know Mr & Mrs W - he is a Brighton Lion - and count them as friends but somehow we didn't connect Mrs R W being "at home" with Robin's recent birthday, his 80th. Nor did we feel we could ask other Lions if they would be going, just in case they had not been invited and would feel slighted. We bought Mrs R a box of chocolates and duly attended Truleigh Manor a few minutes after the appointed time - to find two other Lions parking their cars in the yard.
We made our way through the back garden and into the kitchen through what is now the usual entrance (I don't think the real front door has been used for years) and were immediately offered drinks and ushered into the lounge. What a pleasant afternoon we had: plenty of booze for the non-drivers and a good supply of food (two pigs were roasted on a spit) and a trad jazz band to provide entertainment. Fortunately, the heavy rain of the morning cleared up so we were able to get to the tent erected in the garden to eat our meal.
There were four other Brighton Lions invited among the crowd of family, friends and neighbours so we felt quite honoured to have been included. I was also flattered when asked to say a few words.
Although the farm is mentioned in the Domesday Book and Truleigh Manor obviously dates back a few years, it isn't that old.
Entertainment provided by a small group playing traditional jazz.
Cutting the cake, which was in the form and colours of Robin's old school tie.
We happen to know Mr & Mrs W - he is a Brighton Lion - and count them as friends but somehow we didn't connect Mrs R W being "at home" with Robin's recent birthday, his 80th. Nor did we feel we could ask other Lions if they would be going, just in case they had not been invited and would feel slighted. We bought Mrs R a box of chocolates and duly attended Truleigh Manor a few minutes after the appointed time - to find two other Lions parking their cars in the yard.
We made our way through the back garden and into the kitchen through what is now the usual entrance (I don't think the real front door has been used for years) and were immediately offered drinks and ushered into the lounge. What a pleasant afternoon we had: plenty of booze for the non-drivers and a good supply of food (two pigs were roasted on a spit) and a trad jazz band to provide entertainment. Fortunately, the heavy rain of the morning cleared up so we were able to get to the tent erected in the garden to eat our meal.
There were four other Brighton Lions invited among the crowd of family, friends and neighbours so we felt quite honoured to have been included. I was also flattered when asked to say a few words.
Although the farm is mentioned in the Domesday Book and Truleigh Manor obviously dates back a few years, it isn't that old.
Entertainment provided by a small group playing traditional jazz.
Cutting the cake, which was in the form and colours of Robin's old school tie.
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