Pleiades BBQ 2013

We received our annual invite to Fogg Manor for a weekend of wine, food and daftness. this year the theme was 'cartoon characters'. As you can see, The Flintstones were a popular choice (but not that popular with the dog walkers we met on our 'in character' walk along the canal tow path!) 

We dined on delicious pork, lamb and stuffed peppers; drank champoo, wine and cider; played Bartenga, dunked in the hot tub and even learned how to create kumihimo. As the evening moved on, we moved outside to observe the night sky, we saw constellations, many satellites, the ISS AND some meteors. 

If you have the chance, go outside tonight, sit in your deck chair and look up, it should be a good show. http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide

This weekend is a highlight of our calendar, a great chance to appreciate the finer things in life, food, drink, nature...and good friends. Thank you. x

Congratulations Ma'am - Diamond Jubilee

We visited the Fogg's new home in the wooded depths of the East Riding of Yorkshire, leafy, rural with wonderful birdsong all around.
We enjoyed a meat feast banquet at every meal, champagne and a jacuzzi in the garden. (There's nothing like a fizzy dip at 8.30am to get your blood moving!)
The Caddyfrog's (formerly known as the Cadwallader's. See meteor-hot-tub-bbq BLOG) and The Foggs really got into the spirit of the fancy dress with Mr Caddyfrog unable to tell the difference between his homemade sceptre and the real thing (cue discussion about which diamond is in the sceptre). The Caddyfrog's won the prize for best dressed, which was an 18" wide floating rubber duck that was duly knighted Dave the Duck by Mrs Caddyfrog.
Marsha and Nelly had a whale of a time, climbing trees, hot tubbin', film making, reading and having a wander round the village. We played, coits, golf, bartenga, tennis and swing-ball. We watched the flotilla on the TV and ignored the rain. We saw the villagers 'parade' to the local hall. (Actually the walked past the house in rain macs and umbrellas but the intent was there, the only fancy dress was worn by a wet weimeraner.)
I particularly enjoyed the very confusing 4 way conversations and Mrs Caddyfrog's trifle served from Aunty Gerty's crystal bowl!
As ever, a weekend of fun and frolic, wine and food, friends and family. Thank you all, xxxxx
Long Live the Queen!

Dressing up time

We have been invited to the Fogg's for the annual meteor shower BBQ hot tub experience. This year with a twist - no meteors, not that we've been sober enough to witness any thus far anyway! This year it's a Jubilee BBQ hot tub, garden game extravaganza. Also, costumes in the theme, "Kings & Queens" are de riguer. so with 4 days to go and a limited budget I have had the printer on full speed, all the local charity shops have been stripped of suitable wear and Nanny is knitting like a dervish. Tomorrow I'll get the pinking shears and sewing machine out. After The Fogg's appearance at Christmas In March in full Mr & Mrs Santa at the door, we have a lot to live up to.
So as long as we can get the costumes ready in time, we'll be looking forward to the 9m x 3m gazebo and 8 person hot tub (what water shortage?).
Look out Fogg's, here we come!

Christmas in March

Mr and Mrs Fogg couldn't make it from York to us in December so we decided to make Christmas happen in March when they could make it. The decorations are up, the tree lights are flickering, Mr Fink is out food shopping.
Tomorrow after work I'll be preparing the elements of Christmas dinner (yes, GWTBO, there will be a huge jug of gravy) and greeting the Foggs with a shepards pie after their journey down South. We'll enjoy carols and festive songs and a glass of fizz.
Christmas Day will be Bucks fizz and bacon sarnies, present opening, a lovely lazy roast with crackers and party hats. Later, party games, the Queen's speech (recorded on TV) and Monsters V Aliens, complete with Xmas adverts!
Season's Greetings and Merry March Christmas from The Finks. x

Meteor Hot Tub BBQ

Sun, great food, wine, friends, hot tub, not necessarily in that order, all came together to create a lovely weekend of meteor spotting, bathing and bartenga at The Foggs house. We met The Caddyfrog which was Mr Cadwalledar dressed in his scuba gear to partake in the hot tub. A wonderful weekend with great friends. Thank you.