“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”.

After my marriage broke up, and before I met Sandie and introduced her (with pierced ears, glitzy top and toe nails varnished, not my Mother’s style!) to my Mom (who took to her immediately), she was of an age (my Mom)! to realise that her beloved and cherished and much wanted son was alone in the world that she was going at some point to depart, and probably fairly soon. She would stress on me that I was not alone in the world because I had family.

“Oh do shut up Mother” I would think to myself, “do give it a rest”, “stop banging on” – then I would actually say, “yes of course Mom, I will remember that”.  Which I did, and now that I am of her age, the realisation dawns, as it probably has with most of the happy band which met yesterday that family are important – more so than we theoretically realised some time ago.

The “happy few” met yesterday and were joined by Penny and Laurance from East Anglia who found the prospect of travelling too hard to contemplate, and Julie and Jel from New Zealand as we collectively employed the might of the Meta group in a family huggle.  

Thanks to two people in particular – Hazel for hosting and catering, and Vicky for presenting us with some good (and long overdue) news that she and Geoff were now married, which of course meant we had to open a celebratory bottle of champagne that Hazel had presciently stored for a sunny day such as this. There was I introducing Vicky to Julie and Jel and and wondering about her official title – partner, girlfriend etc. At the last meeting we gave Geoff a hard time pulling his leg about asking Vicky to tie the knot so I used the word wife, and nearly fell over when she said “oh yes! it’s official, we’re married” – so later of course we had to have the full romantic story didn’t we? Talking of Julie and Jel – their interesting web sites are here – https://planmyplay.co.nz/

And it was a sunny day full of both smiles and laughter, some serious family chat, memories stirred and recounted, some helpful guidance issued to Liz Truss and President Putin, and very erudite and interesting conversation ensued in Hazel’s most elegant and inviting dining room.  The day shouldn’t have ended, and questions, comments, observations and memories are now stored for our next meeting, be it physical or virtual (though I have to say the sheer energetic physicality of it was addictive to the Covid lockdown socially starved such as Sandie and I).

The Raybould’s (with off-springs and partners) are very definitely the sort of people that I want to spend time with!