We got up early, emptied the dishwashers, and sorted out all the glasses left by the caterers as well as some from the house. There was a plumbing emergency in the kitchen when one of the radiators leaked hot water, and we had to call for the plumber who fixed it promptly. We had a very nice breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs and mushrooms, made by Frannie with help from Hugh and Julie.
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| Family group outside the house |
When Matthew got up we gave him his iPad and several
birthday cards, to add to the ones he received for his and Sarah's wedding anniversary. Everyone signed the
Guest Book provided by Laura. There were some very nice thoughts and comments. Paul went off to buy a stack of Sunday papers and we sat around reading them before strolling round the garden. As it was so wet on the ground, we had the birthday
picnic on tables in the garden with everyone helping themselves to the extensive buffet served in the kitchen.
At around 4.30 Hugh, Julie, Jess and Joe prepared to leave and they dropped Sam off at Derby station. Meanwhile Paul, Tam, Jess and Tom also left, taking Frannie to the station. We didn't have time to dwell on the goodbyes as the remainder of the party was heading for Buxton to attend the Marriage of Figaro, an opera buffa at the
Buxton Festival. We travelled there in four cars as Lesley and David planned to return home immediately afterwards. We would see them again on Friday.
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| Buxton Opera House |
We mingled outside the Opera House and had a glass of champagne while watching the Shakespeare Jukebox company, two men and a woman, performing turns from the plays. Sarah was interested as she studied Shakespeare's tragedies at university but had never seen him performed. We had good seats in the circle for the performance, not the Italian version by Mozart but a later comic opera sung in English. The lighting, sets, singing and stage design were very good but the music was not first rate and the story was a bit trite. However it was an enjoyable evening, it kept fine, and we said goodbye to Lesley and David after the show. When we got back home - now just Richard and I, Matthew and Sarah, Laura, Grandma, David and Cheri, we had toast and coffee for supper. Some people moved to a nicer room.
