Well, I have been busy.....5 days at the Melbourne Royal Show, made well over 100 mini sausage rolls one night after the Show, and got Fraser to help me fill the Ute on Friday morning - as I was bringing a lot of bags of stuff - mainly food ingredients - as I had purchased the ingredients for the mushroom arancini balls and the emapanadas that Karen and Tom were making - and yes it was pouring on the way there.
And I really don't like driving the ute in the rain....
Anyway, got there - and unpacked
I should also give some context to what this was all about - we had been asked to participate in the Loddon Valley Arts Trail again (3rd year running).
This year, Rosemary (organiser) had suggested a "swanky" garden party with of course the Gilbert and Sullivan performers again, 5 x delicious canapes, and a tour of the main downstairs public rooms of the house.
Karen & Tom had agreed to help, and in fact volunteered to make a couple of canapes. Carolyn also came back to help, as did Chris and Jo
Given the "cost of living crisis" - the cost was $40 as opposed $50 last year. But there wouldn't be a welcome glass of bubbles. Last year we had sold out really quickly. This year sales just limped along - and I thought we'd only get around 30 people. That said there was a rally at the end - (and I also personally asked a lot of people) and we ended up selling out, and even had some walks in
Stopped raining by the time I got there - so admired the cornflowers and poppies at the front
That large plant that I had bought from National Trust was also in bud
As were the paper daisies
Lovely purple bearded iris
Given that it was threatening both rain and thunderstorms for tomorrow afternoon - Rosemary had organised some marquees and a guy came and started putting them up on Friday afternoon
Meanwhile, I was doing a bit more tidying up around the garden, and also made up the feta and green mixtures for the watermelon canapes, and the mixture for the tuna tapenade
At one stage I was in our bedroom, and I heard a noise in the chimney, and then some pieces of chewed up bread came down - I assume that a bird had been sitting up on the chimney pot - and just dropped it
Justin arrived mid afternoon (from Shepparton)
Karen & Tom also arrived on Friday afternoon - and commenced preparation for their food
I also took them across the road to the Town Hall to show them the Supper room and kitchen (in case we had to use it) and we had a look at the After the Fire exhibition
There were some stunning photos there - showing the devastation of the Harcourt fires. It was opening night, so we had a glass of wine, and some nibbles - and then heard a couple of people speak of their bushfire experiences
Finished up around 5.30, went home and changed, and then drove up to Terry's to have dinner. This had been organised weeks ago. The usual suspects were there - ie Arlene, David & June, Chrissie & Mark, and then also Dermot and Mel - was a pleasant evening, and luckily not too late
Saturday, and a casual breakfast, and then on with everything - and the Danes & Carolyn arrived also. Justin, Chris, Jo and I went across the road to get the chairs - with 4 of us it didn't take long - and they managed to get all of the chairs under the marquees (out of interest there were 2x 6m x 6m and 1 x 12m x 6m)
Loddon Valley Shire had also dropped off the below flag - but there was no support for it. I tried to weave it into the reo grid on the garage - but it didn't work - so we didn't end up using it
And we were concerened about the weather - it was sunny in the morning - but there were some rain bearing looking clouds
Meanwhile, Tom, Karen and Carolyn were busy in the kitchen
Karen and Tom had also had some aprons made up especially for me - "LFM Catering" - I was absolutely chuffed!
And yes, from a slow start, where I thought we would only get around 30 paid guests - we ended up having a sell out - hoorah. I must admit, I hustled a few friends /acquaintances to come along ie Tom & Simone, Dennis & Pip, Eril, Brian & Clare etc
The cast arrived around 12 or so
And once again - I had a comprehensive run list (worked off last year's). Unlike last year, where Rachel provided a lunch for the cast, I said that I would do it (Rachel was unable to come, as she had a competing performance elsewhere). Anyway, because of my now quite extensive sandwich making experience at the Melbourne Royal Show, I made up 10 x delicious sandwiches ie shredded chicken, cornichons, celery etc, salad and ham and salad (no meat). And also provided 2 x (bought biscuits), tea/coffee, and apples/oranges in the cast green room (garage) - worked out well
And then they started practising
Meanwhile, I also made up chicken sandwiches for us - and Chris, Justin and I ate outside in the rotunda
I ended up alone with my thoughts in the rotunda - and was dismayed when I saw a streak of lightning - followed not much later by some booming thunder
Sure, we had shelter for the guests - but none for the performers, and we also had electrics ie the cord for the piano....
So, because of this we decided to initiate Plan B - which was to set up the Supper Room in the Town Hall (I had already organised this a few days before hand - when rain seemed imminent)
This entailed getting rid of the round tables - and setting up > 60 chairs - with an aisle down the centre for ease of access. We put the tables out in the back hall
And the others kept on cooking
Anyway, there had been a few spits of rain, and more thunder, but the weather held
I set up my ticket checking station at the front gate again - and had wrist bands again - and it worked like a charm. I said that I had urged some friends and acquaintances to come, but was also surprised to see some that I had only mentioned this event to in passing. ie Lyn & Charmaine - who I had met at the Bendigo Keys of Gold event - back in July - they said they would come and yes they did. Also the couple who had chatted with me while I was gardening. Turns out the women (Lexi) is a member of Boroondara CWA (small world), and also a gal (can't remember her name) who I was chatting to at the After party for Keys of Gold - she came with a girlfriend - all dressed up in cocktail attire - perfect!
At my ticket station with Justin behind me
Carolyn and Jo were waitressing
Chris was Doorman - and also answered any questions that guests might have had during the self guided tour. I used the information sheets that Sheryl L had laminated for me when we did our CWA Harcourt Fundraiser
Dave from Black Wallaby also set up a gazebo next to the mulberry tree, and was selling his various wines (and soft drinks) - but I forgot to take photos of him. I think this was better than us including a welcome glass - like last time - was one less complication
The schedule was as follows
I opened the gates at 3.30 pm, and Chris was in the hallway/by the front door if people wanted to have a look at the downstairs public rooms then
We had the concert from 4.30pm - 4.50pm, and then more house tours til 5.10pm. Then the second set from 5.10pm - 5.30pm, and then closed at 6pm
And I was the MC- introducing the acts, giving a run down of the schedule etc
So, we had 3 x no shows (I found out later that two of them had cancelled), and we had 3 x walk ins (cash and direct debit)
Anyway, it all went swimmingly - including Justin with his Judge song cameo again
Jo took a sneaky photo of me and Justin
This time they also had a narrator (who was also the music page turner) - I think this worked out very well - as she explained the context of the song
Justin had some photos taken with adoring fans
So, we finished up around 6- and then inside to relax in the kitchen
Jo took the below photos with a timer on her mobile
And then we had a delicious pork curry and rice in the dining room. Chris had made it at home and brought it up - we certainly hadn't felt like cooking after all our work today
Sunday, and a slow start - and then Archer Shepherd at St Marys in Kingower at 11am. There was also a photographic exhibition of "The Wedding Man" - a chap who used to go and take photos of weddings around the Maryborough region. He took 100s if not 1000s - and they were rediscovered in an old suitcase - so they decided to make an exhibition of them
Archer was very good, and personable - and Justin and Chris even harmonised with him a little
Then back to Inglewood - and some lunch in the rotunda
And of course at some stage we took all the chairs back to the Town Hall, and also put the Town Hall Supper room back together the way we had found it
So yet another great weekend!
