Got there around 3pm, with a fringe of glorious colourful gazanias welcoming us out the front. Did some weeding in the vegie garden, as I didn't want Justin to see all the weeds and then want to spray them.
I unfortunately made Val and George feel a bit guilty, but said it was my choice, I wanted to weed, it was relatively nice and sunny, and they kept me watered with bubbles and fed with a few crackers and cheese, it's the only way to weed now.
Went up to the top veranda around 5pm, and had some more drinks and nibbles. It was really lovely up there, sunny, warm (ish) still, just perfect
And then down to the dining room for dinner. George had made up a salmon salad which was delicious.
Dylan was also enjoying himself, rather relaxed and at home, when we arrived he had run upstairs to the red room, and just settled himself in
George and I took Dylan for a walk in the morning, - was amazed by the terracotta type dried mud
Sausage rolls
Mini vegi quiches (asparagus for one lot and sundried tomato for the other)
Pesto chicken and spinach & fetta filo triangles
Falafel balls, mini meat balls, fish bites, arancini etc etc. Lots and lots of tasty finger food for our Music night.
And of course there was Terry, Arlene, June and Chrissy and I helping. And Jan did the marvellous sweets
Justin came and picked me up around 1pm so that we could have lunch together with Val & George, and Carolyn who he brought up from Melbourne.
Hamish, Janaea and kids came a bit later - but they had already had lunch
Had the rest of the salmon salad plus some roast chicken etc for lunch. And then the musicians ie Justin and Hamish disappeared to practice
Chris and Jo arrived around 3pm, just as Caroline and I left the house to walk up the street, and she bought a couple of vintage coats/long jackets from Denise.
And then there was some more practising with Chris
Took a little while to organise ourselves to walk out the door for the Music Night. Terry had wanted me there at 6pm to help set up
As it was, we passed Terry and family at his house, arrived at 6.10 or so and so had to wait outside the Church as it was locked, and it was pretty cold.....
Terry eventually came, and we teased him a little for being late.
Chris of course had to set up and start playing a little
And then we started handing out the food
First up musically speaking we had a tribute to Alvin. His mandolin was given pride of place in the front, and then a recording was played of him singing and playing - was lovely to remember him like that.
Justin, Chris and Hamish came on next, and they did really well. They had lovely harmonies, and a great selection of songs. I'd asked Terry if they could be first up, as Janaea had to get the kids back to the house and in bed at a reasonable time.
Next up were the Kingower Rangers
And Daniel also got up to sing Old Man river and Shenandoah
Then Dermott on his ukulele
Then Jan's delicious dessert plate - what a feast
And lastly our boys and Val got up again.
Val sang the Joni Mitchell song - Paved Paradise and put up a Parking Lot. Looked like she was enjoying herself, so hopefully she'll come back again and perform
And Hamish obliged me by singing my request of Hallelujah in the Jeff Buckley vein. Brought the house down! (Hamish had driven back after dropping Janaea and the kids back at the house)
I guess we finished up around midnight, Terry wanted us to stay longer, but the others wanted to leave.
Although we were pretty cold waiting outside the Church at the beginning of the evening, we didn't feel cold inside. Therefore, I was very surprised when I found ice on the car windshield.
I had volunteered for driving duty, and had Carolyn and Jo as passengers - Justin was going to come with us - but jumped out of the car to see where Chris was walking off to. Unfortunately Justin didn't come back, we waited and waited, wondering what had happened to him. Jo eventually got out and went back into the Church but couldn't see either of them there, so we just drove off (couldn't call using the mobiles because there is no reception in Kingower)
Got home a good 15 minutes after everyone else, and Justin had the unwitting cheek to ask why we had taken so long, I set him straight (a bit grumpily).
Anyway, everyone was upstairs and making more music, I was going to go to bed, but wasn't allowed, and ended up going to bed around 2am,.
Justin and Hamish clowned around - and I tried to capture their forced "Eureka moment"
Dylan once again kept us company
George played a bit
More music
Just had toast and coffee - some of us out the front in the sun
But then an alfresco antipasto type lunch under the tree. Jo had brought some nice dips and cheeses, small goods. I brought out our last cured salami, and home made olives etc
All in all, another excellent Music night and weekend
