Pre-Wedding Celebration BBQ/Non-BBQ/Soiree

On Saturday, James’ parents (Peter and Marie) hosted a party at their home to pre-celebrate the wedding celebration.  There was just a bit of a debate on what to call it.  I think it was initially to be called a BBQ but James’ grandmother has a general aversion to BBQs because her neighbors have them and are really loud.  So it was a non-BBQ BBQ.  But also a soiree.  And since  Peter and Marie have an amazing garden, I took to calling it a garden party. The backyard garden….

They also have an amazing fish ponds in the front yard.  Earlier in the week, the pump had failed and dear old Splashy, a 26 year old carp, had died.  James was quite traumatized by this so we all decided that a book and movie should be written called “The Adventures of Splashy.”  I voted for Hugh Grant to voice Splashy but was immediately vetoed in favor of some other English actor that I had never heard of.  We did all agree that Kate Winslet would voice Mrs. Splashy, you know, to give the movie some Oscar contention vibes.

The first thing I noticed upon my arrival is the English hot dogs come in a jar.  And they are actually Polish sausages made in Germany…but with a picture of the Statue of Liberty on the front.

The food!

The desserts!

The party was a lot of fun and it was nice to meet everyone!

From left to right, ME!, Saira, James, Saira’s Dad, James Mom and Dad, Saira Aunt and Uncle

This is such a fun picture!  We were all sitting at a table in the garden when Saira’s dad noticed a lady bird/bug lapping up tea/coffee on his saucer.  We were all transfixed by this bug and fairly certain it was going to be incredibly high on caffeine before it was all over.  James' Mom walked over and got this incredibly nonposed, completely natural pic.  If you enlarge the pic, you can actually see the lady bird/bug (not sure what the difference is) on the saucer.  And wow, check out that arch in my eyebrows. 

Thanks for a lovely party, Peter and Marie!