Recently, the hub and I were invited to celebrate a dear friend’s 50th birthday party in York. Cathy and I met at a Raqs Sharqi Society dance residential in 2001. Raqs Sharqi is the Arabic name for Egyptian Dance. Cathy and I’ve kept in touch ever since and try to see each other at least once a year. Luckily, ‘im Indoors and Cathy’s husband, David get on like a house on fire. What’s more they are both early risers so hubby has someone to talk to in the mornings!
Cathy picked Frank and I up from the airport and I casually asked how many people she had invited to the party. ‘ Just the seventy’ she replied! ‘Well I never dreamed they would all come…’
The next few days were spent buying and collecting food, preparing meat roasts, salads and curries and decorating the house. David is a brilliant cook and the garden looked wonderful too. Friday before the party it rained non-stop so we had everything crossed for fine weather on Saturday. I awoke to the smell of roasting chicken and then the doorbell was constantly ringing as cupcakes and tasty snacks from Waitrose and Marks & Spencer started to arrive. Gradually the sun came out and the grass on the lawn started to dry.
Cathy and her husband had spent months planning everything in minute detail and when all the food arrived on Saturday, I thought there was far too much! How wrong was I. At the end of the evening practically everything had been eaten.
Hats off to both David and Cathy for planning such a wonderful event with scrumlicious food, musicians that included renowned darabuka player, Guy Shalom, dance performance by Cathy, and a wonderful light installation that David created to round off a perfect day. Thanks also to David’s brother, Simon who told the most hilarious stories around the brazier as the night drew in. I haven’t laughed so much in ages. I think the pictures tell the story better than any words can…
Amsterdam Oriole 