BBQ 99
The UMRA Barbecue May 22nd., 1999
Well, it is all over, bar the shouting . . . and the weather was terrible as
expected, (mostly sunshine!). We had done our best to ensure good BBQ weather (y'know
the sort of thing; heavy rain, high winds, and sub-zero temperatures) but being
British (and proud of it!) we soldiered on in the bright sunshine and light
breeze.
Some things don't change though, we were able to offer veggie fare and for
the non-veggies, there was plenty of carbonised remains of Gloucester Old Spot
Piggy Wiggy spare ribs and burgers.
It is a calumny that the large 'Heskey' Barbecue stand collapsed mid
charring for it never even reached Reading this year; in fact, Peter had to rush
out to purchased a replacement barbecue stand from 'BB&Q' and do a motorway dash
back across Reading before we could commence the GOS burning ceremony. It is a
credit to our very own UMRA Bard, Mary McKemp (lives north of the border these
days) for she predicted the potential disaster and wrote an ode
to cover the occassion.
Here are my digipics of the proceedings; I'll just give them numbers and you
may have the pleasure of working out the story and the details behind each!
If you click on any of the numbers below, they should transport you to
Saturday May 22nd. 1999 and into the Toodles's back garden or the groaning nosh
table! Good Viewing . . .
Pic 1 ,
Pic 2 ,
Pic 3 and
Pic 4 show the 'Rain Shelter'
erection.
Pic 5 Peter 'Heskey'
Hesketh arrives with the 'Lambing Caravan.
Pic 7
Brenda Selwyn's Map of Ambridge Cake. (And
Pic12 plus
Pic 14 shows the 'Dirty Deed'
being carried out by the hand of Daniel . . . er, I mean Laurence with a little
help from Mum 'Nappies & Burps' Brenda Selwyn.
Pic 19 Mary McKemp:
The official Ode is proclaimed . . .
Pic 35 The Auction
Team: Charles P'nina & Hazel.
Pic 36,
Pic 37,
Pic 38,
Pic 39,
Pic 40,
Pic 42,
Pic 43,
Pic 44,
Pic 45,
Pic 46,
Pic 47,
Pic 48 &
Pic 49 : The Auction: one can
see how much UMRATS enjoy parting with their hard earned Pounds, Marks, Rands,
Dollars and various other currencies that were proffered in aid of charity!
Pic 50 &
Pic 51, The 'HAHA' Plate was
successfuly bid for by Liz Blades.
Pic 53: Simon Townley
decided that ". . . although the zither was 'interesting', he was not bidding
over Andrew- 'Zithers 'R' Us' -Wineberg, and yes - it certainly did need
tuning!"
Pic 55: Auctioning of
'The Book'.
Then there was the HAHA 'Hippo Family' that the McToodles won for being
close(ish) in guessing the 'rms'-or something similar- weight per foot of a
widthwise slice of adult Hippo. The
family of hippos seem to be
very happy to take up residence at Toodle Villas; Chris McToodles has re-named
the residence 'The Hippodrome'! Ah there's that Hell'in Archer over there, Oh
Helen, I'd like to introduce you to some friends of mine from Zimbabweewee . . .
Just take a close look at their tonsils dear . . .
Pic 56: Min Lacey is in the height of fashion, but mind out when
that tail twirls . . . look out! Too late I'm afraid, . . . err, would you like
a shovel?
Pic 57: Who's
this sleeping then? (Photo: Penny Fleury)
Pic 58: 'Smile
Please' (Photo: Penny Fleury)
Pic 59: There's a
good time coming, but it's a good time coming! (Photo: Penny Fleury)
Pic 60: John
Gilliver is ready to capture it 'As it Happens' (Photo: Penny Fleury)
Pic 61: Chris is
not taking any chance of losing out on a juicy shot just because she has to eat
at some point! (Photo: Penny Fleury)
Pic 62: As the
saying goes 'Probably' our youngest UMRAT, Mark Squires. (Photo: Penny Fleury)
Pic 63: George
and his daughter Jeni Middleton. (Photo: Penny Fleury)
Pic 64: Kathy and
Glynn Greenwood don't seem to mind the 'burnt bits'!
Pic 65: Bob Archer,
(our American Correspondent now)
Pic 66: Chloe
Wallace, that doesn't look like chocolate you're eating there!?
Pic 67: Paul,
Roseanne and lower case robin.
Pic 68: Ah so
there's that Penny Fleury with her equipment!
This way to the charred remains of BBQ 2000 Photos.
