I resisted the Fopp (record Shop) urge today and walked to the Architecture centre opposite Pero's bridge - not sure what the exhbition was today but couldn't help buying yet another book! Anyway Dad said to meet opposite the watershed at 4.15 so I was a little early and walked around with my goats cheese and olive baguette in hand. Today we were meeting up to celebrate uncle Johns 80th birthday (I can't believe Uncle John is 80!) by taking a cruise up the river Avon to bessies tea gardens.
However uncle John wasn't in the know so Pete led me over to where Uncle John and Auntie Janet were having a drink before meeting everybody else at the quay. 'Good to see you - fancy seeing you here today!! said Pete and aunty Janet. After a while claire, Joby and family arrived and then the rest of the family arrived. Elli and Toby were excited about going on the boat ride. However we waited for the boat but the boat didn't arrive.
However a little while later it turned out the boat was leaving from elsewhere. We all made a dash through Kingstreet - past the Llandoger Trow (where I used to spend a lot of time in my teens!) and saw the boat arriving and we all climbed aboard. As the boat moved along it was like being in New Orleans (does New Orleans have a river?) with some excellent new Orleans Jazz playing and chatting to family and Sue (Cousin) leading the dancing and waving to everybody on the shore.
When we arrived at Bessies we saw a mountain of scones, jam and cream. We sang happy birthday to Uncle John and then a good rock group started up - would like to hear them again! Uncle John gave a speech and Me and Alan had three scones and toby and the children sat and watched the rock muscians playing.
The journey back was great with the children enjoying playing on the boat. A really lovely afternoon and great to see family again and a bit like being on a boat in New Orleans!
