Now Essie is not your average young woman. She is already extraordinary. She reads widely, listens to a varied smorgasbord of music, has considered opinions and can hold her own in any conversation. In fact, considering Michael, Romola (Esther's Mum), Jurgen (extremely eccentric older German bloke) and I were supposed the adults at the dinner party, Essie could have beaten us all in adultness will one hand tied behind her back.
Jake, Zoe, Jade and Ava were the young people in attendance. Considering there were four old fogies around the table, the kids coped admirably with our presence, cheerfully joining into our demented ravings.
We were late arriving - the invitation was for six o'clock and we arrived at six thirty. Romola is exceptionally punctual; if she asks you for six, she actually means five thirty. We, the most unpunctual couple on the planet, are never anywhere on time. So, when we made our appearance, the entree had already been consumed by everyone else. They were politely waiting for us, so they could serve the main course.
Dinner, a slow cooked casserole with dumplings and vegetables, was delicious. We relaxed after a busy day and enjoyed the company, the surroundings and the occasion. The theme of Esther's birthday - an anachronistic party - meant wildly divergent costumes. Around the dinner table was a hippy, a glamour queen, a card playing cowboy, a sixties model (complete with beehive hairstyle), a steampunk goddess, a demure Edwardian lass and us - a belle of the ball in my wedding frock (or a brothel madame) on the arm of the eccentric artist.
Dessert was creme caramel - a gorgeous warm, sticky little pot of heaven with about three million kilojoules. Divine. And being the party of a most unusual mother and daughter, the event was all over by nine thirty. We were not concerned, as we were both tired and looking forward to bed.
Back at the House that Rocks, a BBQ was in full swing. Ryan had lit the Old Faithful on the new shed's verandah and produced a feast for himself, Bas and Pascaline. Some truly awful music was blasting out of an iPad. Beers had been downed and the younger residents at the House that Rocks were having a bloody good time. They all retired to Ryan's bus to continue their party whilst Michael and I hit the sack.
Some time later, we realised Muddy was still in the living room, whilst the rest of the Awesome Foursome were in their dog bunks. Muddy had made himself extremely comfortable on the couch and was somewhat hesitant to Michael's request that he leave the couch and the room. A dog's life...
By midnight the property was quiet. The kids had partied on for an acceptable time before going to bed. Two parties on the same night in Heavenly Beverley. Wow!
The Belle and the Artist
The Glamour Queen, the hippy and demure seated Edwardian lady
The Edwardian lady and the Steampunk Goddess
Maverick (in a dazed state) and the Birthday Girl with beehive hair
Ryan, Basile and Pascaline enjoying their evening on the verandah @ the House that Rocks!
No comments:
Post a Comment