CWA Metro meets Country July 5 -7th 2019

This was the long awaited CWA weekend....

I guess I had bored/intrigued some of my Ashburton CWA gals about Inglewood, so some of them  were curious about it.  I suggested they come up for a weekend, and then perhaps rashly suggested that I contact some of the local groups in the area, and see if they wanted to come along also.  To try and make it a city group meets the country groups type event

I guess I expected maybe 10 or so to come....

Well, at first there was not really any response, but then RSVPs started to come in, and I figured that there were close to 40 rural gals, and 7 of us from the Ashburton group.

Initially I'd thought I'd have it in the dining room, with an open fire, and a couple more trestle tables.  And then if it were a nice day, I could have it outside.

Well the expected numbers were too much for that....with a final 33 expected to come

When the first few RSVPs came through, and they offered to bring some food, I told them no (hopefully graciously) as I was inviting them, so I would cater for them.  However as the numbers increased, if they volunteered to bring something, I gladly accepted.

Cooked up some goodies on the Friday - onion tart, sweet potato and bacon fritatta, lime yogurt syrup cake, and the shredded chicken mixture for sandwiches

And then the dreaded task of packing the ute.

Got Fraser to help me - and also discovered at this time that some inconsiderate and dishonest person had run into the back of my car while I was parked at the local shopping centre.  Didn't leave a note, and either we pay the $1800 repair bill, or we claim on insurance and increase our premium. Not happy!

Anyway, packed 4 x trestle tables, 2 x foldup chairs, 4 x new panel heaters in their boxes, tablecloths, more crockery, the food etc

It was a lot, ute was full!

Left around 3.30pm, but there was traffic, so arrived in Inglewood around 6pm

Unloaded (took a while), and realised that I'd left a crucial box of cups behind (got Margaret to pick them up for me on Saturday morning)

And then had dinner - leftovers and a glass of wine

Texted Terry to see if he could lend me some cups (had discussed this with him the previous week anyway)

And he then rang me, and invited me to Arlene and David's - so off I went (otherwise would have just watched some Monarch of the Glen episodes)

Had a very pleasant evening, and Arlene lent me some cups and saucers also

Saturday morning, and I was up and at em...

It was quite cold though - with frost on the ute cover

Quick breakfast, and then a chair audit.  I had 31 possible chairs (now expected 33 people), so only needed 2 additional chairs if I used the 6 kitchen chairs. and then up to Terry's to get the additional tables.  He had suggested that with that many expected guests that I have 12 tables 6 long x 2 wide with 3 chairs per table.  And he also lent me some additional cups and saucers

He also volunteered to come back to Inglewood and help me set them up - which I initially declined, saying that I could do it, but then readily accepted, as these things take longer than you think

So, he came back and helped me unload, and also set up

I had my calico tablecloths which weren't quite wide enough for the double width tables.  He suggested that I come back to Kingower and borrow his, and also get his additional chairs, which we had forgotten to pack earlier

He left, as Margaret and her partner Rob arrived.  ( I later commandeered Rob to put the wheel stands
on the 4 heaters that I'd bought, he kindly did so)

I also needed an egg for the red velvet cupcakes that I was making (wanted them fresh for today,m syrup cake an other things could take being a day old).  I had been up to David's and he hadn't collected the eggs as yet.

So I drove up to Kingower yet again, borrowed the table cloths, got the chairs and nicely asked for an egg.

Back to Inglewood, and by this stage, most of the other Ashburton CWA crew had arrived.

Advised them of their rooms, and cracked on with the cupcakes.  Kaylene came and volunteered to make up the chicken sandwiches

And the others continued with the tables outside - arranging the chairs, putting out the plates and cups and saucers etc

We were lucky it was such a brilliant day.  Terry had said it was the best day for 2 weeks. And it really was - sunny and blue and still.

Back to the cupcakes, and I was slopping the mixture around a bit when putting into the patty pans.  Kaylene ordered me to go away and sit down, have a cup of tea, she and Anne could finish up, so I did, and so did they. I really appreciated that, as I felt like I had been an energiser bunny rushing around for hours. 

Scrounged up some leaves and flowers for table decorations.

Had 2 tables for the food in the shade (after all it was a sunny day)

 
And then another table with an urn that I'd borrowed from Kim, and coffee, tea, multiple coffee plungers and teapots


And then, they started to arrive....(the first one 15 minutes early!).   And pretty much all of the rest of them by 2pm

So we ate

We chatted

And some of us posed

 And if I do say so, it was a great success!  I told them I might even do it again next year, although would probably do so in the Spring rather than Winter again

a lot of them were interested in having a look at the House, so I gave them a tour also!

Had a photo opportunity on the veranda

And then another one down below from the veranda

 Anyway, they left around 4 or so, and then us Ashburton crew cleaned up and up and put everything away - obviously so much quicker than just me and Terry!

And speaking of Terry he'd invited us up to the Village Green for the 1st Saturday of the month get together

Given that we were all packed up, and that it was still a beautiful late afternoon, off we went with a few bottles of wine (and Terry's tables and chairs to give back in time for next week's Christmas in July)

Terry had also set up a fire in a brazier, so it was very cosy

 

 Stayed til around 7pm, and then back to Inglewood, and the Royal for dinner

Margie welcomed us warmly, and we had a lovely dinner.  Most of us having her delicious porterhouse steaks

 And then back to the house where I made a roaring fire in the dining room, and then board games, more wine, and some port were broken out

Also had one of the heaters on in the dining room, and it seemed to work rather well.

Sunday morning, and a late-ish breakfast in the dining room.  Despite it being such a sunny blue day yesterday, it was overcast and threatening rain.

Given that the rain was supposed to come later.  I suggested that we go to Melville Caves first, which we all enjoyed

We then dropped in on Maille and David who of course had invited us up last night.  Some of the gals were interested to see how they lived off grid

Couldn't stay too long, as Margaret and Rob needed to meet some friends in Bendigo at 2.30

Had a look around, admired the views and the citrus, and then back to the house

Some of the gals were also interested in going to a winery- so I suggested Water Wheel

As it was, they ended up all being interested if we didn't stay too long

So off we all drove to Bridgewater

Peter C was there, and regaled us with amusing anecdotes.  He said that he wouldn't normally be open on a Sunday during Winter, but had a few chores to do (luckily for us)

And luckily for him also - as I think all of us bought at least a few bottles after a few tastings

Then back to Inglewood and the Bakery to get some pies for lunch

Had them in the dining room - with the heater on, and then some of yesterday's goodies for afters, and by this stage the rain had set in

The gals left in a few waves after lunch

And I was left in the now empty house, exhausted, but very satisfied with my weekend