Heavenly Beverley : An Absolutely Extraordinary Easter in Heavenly Beverley

I would have to say that we are definitely not as energetic as we used to be. Back in the Days Before Fifty-Five, I was able to schedule multiple activities in one day and still be standing at the evening's conclusion. This is often not possible in current times, particularly if we cram several days into a single one. Michael is even more susceptible than me, now rapidly morphing into a Grumpy Old Fart.

This morning, after five fabulous days over the Easter Long Weekend, we did not rise from the Inner Sanctum until after eleven o'clock. I was most surprised, as although I am not immune to some decedent late morning snoozing, I am usually up and about earlier than Michael. This was particularly easy on Sunday. I staggered out of bed at half-past ten to shower and open the Gallery. Michael eventually made an entrance into the Gallery after four o'clock...In the mid-afternoon...

More of his shenanigans later.

We have enjoyed a constant stream of guests into the East End Gallery for the entire weekend. E-mails, Facebook and even my blog Heavenly Beverley were neglected. I also made a decision to avoid as much political propaganda as possible until the election is done and dusted. This has been positively emancipating for my blood pressure and well-being.

I have joked on several occasions that I drew breath only when I was forced to oxygenate my red corpuscles. We were thrilled with steady sales. We ran out of Beverley Visitor Surveys. We only had one Easter activities brochure remaining as of yesterday afternoon. We had invited a whole pile of new artists to join the East End Gallery. Chrissy Gors (Beverley) delivered four stunning quilts yesterday and then returned home to continue saving an orphaned calf. Lesley and David (who attended the Beverley Easter Markets) will be dropping in some paintings and sculptures to us in the near future. Young photographer Kayla may bring in some of her photographs. Sandra and Claudia (both entrants in the Beverley Art Prize) have dropped new paintings to the Gallery and Claudia's previous painting "Victorian Times" has been sold. Neil Elliott's "Salvador the Rabbit" is also under lay-by by an almost-local for their new home in Beverley. David Mizen, David Lillico and Rob Pampling were late afternoon visitors with Mister Mizen adding two additional night photographs of Green Hills for the Gallery's walls.

Our Famous Sundowner has now moved to Legend status. We had musicians coming out of our ears. All offered their services for no charge. Local soprano Julie sang exquisitely before she and Dave left for home. The other singers ranged from the divine Miss George to the urbane Mr Jones with friends and ring-ins adding to the fun. We bopped along to saxophone, banjo, percussion and guitar. Every sausage and chicken wing was devoured. All the nibbles were consumed. An impressive number of bottles of vino stacked up as the evening continued. We had attendees from babes in arms to our misbehaving elders. What a night to remember!

I pulled the pin at about one o'clock. Naturally, Michael was still rocking on. Rumour has it that he crawled into bed as a human ice cube next to me at around four o'clock. His only request was Panadol and water before I left for the Gallery later in the morning.

He eventually surfaced, still fuzzy and a tad seedy after he'd tentatively risen from bed at three o'clock. I announced we were going to the Freemasons Tavern for Sunday's dinner and to check out their new menu. We both enjoyed an alcohol-free evening.

Michael has since announced that we need to close the Gallery's doors at midnight for future Sundowners. He has acknowledged that he was Exceedingly Silly in terms of vino and cigarette consumption. I have broadcast his intentions so you are all witnesses.

I'll believe it when I see it!

A Selection of Stalls at the Beverley Easter Markets -