Day 3 – How many???

Sunday was a nice lazy day. It was also the day the family from my father’s side were set to visit. My dad was one of 9 children, 2 girls and 7 boys. Each one got married and had several kids. As a result, I have about 10 cousins on this side of the family alone. Each one of the cousins has 2-3 children ranging from newborn to 15 years old. Most of them came to the lunch event today.

Cousins and uncles and kids oh my

Now of course, I don’t get to see them often, in fact many I had not seen since 2002. Some I had not seen since before then. The worst part is that its hard to tell who is who after 15+ years.

I need not have worried. Despite an “unexpected” early start, we had the BBQ going and people started to arrive. Thankfully, they arrived in groups rather than the infamous time around 12 years ago when they all arrived at once by motor coach. That was intimidating!

Stephen tends the Cumberland Sausages and burgers

Food was decent, no frills stuff as you might expect. Costco apparently has made it to the UK and supplied the burgers. We had Cumberland sausages as well and they were very good, certainly a step up from hot dogs.

Oh, and for Todd, the beer was a combination of Carlsberg and Fosters, both in the long cans. Not exactly my style, but sometimes you have to go with the flow.

It was nice to see everyone and to catch up, although I think I told them my plans for the next few weeks about 63,000 times. As many originate in Bermondsey, South London, talk went, somewhat surprisingly to my visit to to the “pie and mash” shop in Croydon. It was quickly dismissed as “crap” and that the true temple for pie and mash devotees is M Manzes in the Borough/Southwark area. I guess I need to add that to my list. They have hot sarsaparilla there. It’s on Westmoreland Road in Southwark. They also have a location on London Bridge Road.

It was nice was to be with family. It has been a long time and it felt good. Its a shame we can’t get together more often, but I suppose that’s the price you pay when you move 5000 miles away.

As you might expect, we had trifle – 2 kinds, including raspberry trifle. That was great. Oh, and there was pickled beetroot, another favorite of mine. For some reason, its different from the stuff you can get in the US.

More family relaxing in the sun room

It was another nice sunny day although windy.

After a lot of catching up, some jokes and general banter about stuff, they left pretty much all at once. We went from having 35 people in the house to being just 4. It was like cleaning up after a tornado, but it was great fun.

To cap the day off, I got to speak with my cousin from the other side of the family. We have not seen each other for 20+ years and we used to be quite close. I’m going to see her tomorrow.I just hope its not BBQ again.

(minor updates for pie and mash location and to address the sad lack of beer info.)