A lovely day

I got up early to go into Banbury to see if my replacement lenses were ready for my specs, but all the disabled car spaces were full even though I went in at 0900,so I parked as near as possible to Specsavers and walked down the High Street. when I noticed a discount book shop called The Works, so I went in and bought an Italian Phrase book and cd, so that I could try and learn some popular phrases. I also bought an old Sinatra cd to put in my car, and a map of France which I wanted. It all came to less than a tenner, so I was happy..
My lenses were ready, but they had to send my specs plus the new lenses to their workshop, so I didn't stay but asked them to phone me when they are ready.I got home and opened an Indian meal of chicken ticka masala. I was going to Steve's for a bbq after the Garden fete in Charlton, but he came round and said that the bbq was off because of the thick black clouds over Charlton, which was a shame although I did not want to get wet. He said come round for roast chicken lunch but as I had already had my lunch, I declined. Well, he said, come round at 2pm and we will go to the fete together.
Came 2 o'clock and the weather had improved so I went to Charlton. to Steve's bungalow and Will, together with Gemma and Clive plus Steve and Fay, plus three dogs, were just finishing their lunch.
From all your visits to Charlton, you may remember that it is basically a one street village with a Post Office and a very nice pub, The Rose and Crown on one side of the road and some old houses on the other side of the road. What you didn't know, and neither did I, was that behind those old houses, especially one called The Cottage were three or four acres of land with three tennis courts, stables and a large lake. This is where the Garden Fete was held. Hundreds of people were at the Fete and it was like an old Morse or Agatha Christie film of OLDE English village life, with posh old ladies selling cakes and bric a brac and the Town Band from Brackley; with bowling for a pig, coconut shies, Aunt Sally shies,comic dog show, egg throwing contest where two people would throw a fresh egg to each other, and by widening the gap between the thrower and the catcher and the winners were those who could throw the egg the furthest, without it breaking. It was such fun and the ground was littered with broken fresh eggs where the catcher had dropped it. The Brackley Town Band was excellent and we all sat near it eating fancy cakes and drinking tea. AND best of all, the sun shone and it did NOT rain. What a wonderful day it was. Even Mr Whippy turned up and there were long queues all afternoon. I had difficulty walking on grass, even with my stick, so wherever possible, I would sit down
The tennis tournament attracted some very fine players and crowds were round the courts watching. So far as I am aware, there were no murders and no drunks, so it was a lovely occasion. We all thought it was a worthwhile visit. DAD
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Hugh Merrow-Smith