14 Jun 2012

A Tent in The Garden!

The time is fast coming ’round for me to start planning the annual ‘Hill House August Summer Party’.

There was a time when one could safely assume that August meant hot sun, blue skies, fat bumble bees and even fatter strawberries. Alas, there are no such certainties in life any more…or perhaps it was just (to slightly miss-quote Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest)Such stuff that dreams were made of?

But surely not just a dream – who else is ‘young enough’ to remember the Summer of 1976? The newspapers were full of stories of children frying eggs on the melting pavements; the traditional British hose pipe ban was in full force – with good reason, and I burnt the soles of my feet walking across the stones on Brighton beach – oh glory days!

Now, I’m not afraid of rain – what true Brit could claim to be – we’re made of stern stuff over here. But what is a girl to do with such inclement weather when she has a Summer party to organise – wellies and Summer dresses simply do not mix in my book – unless I looked like Sienna Miller – and I most certainly don’t – even if you squint your eyes…

But of course, back to the question in hand – what to do when it threatens to rain on ones parade? Get a marquee – that’s what!

I prefer the traditional sort, plain canvas with pointed tips and open sides.

This allows the children to run free and the dogs to roam wild…but that does also mean letting in the wind and rain…

The problem is that I can’t stand the plastic ‘windows’ in non-traditional marquees…

Give me a good open sided ‘tent’ any rainy day. Well…any rainy day after a jug or two of Pimms…

As I said…we’re made of stern stuff over here…


Images courtesy of; 1)Sheldonmanor.co.uk; 2)www.weddingreceptionideas.co.uk; 3)www.wildweddings.co.uk;4,5,6) unknown 7&8)www.cabbagesandroses.co.uk; 9)www.vintagemarquees.co.uk; 10)www.rodeoleisure.co.uk;
11)Myself & Mr. Sutton at our June wedding reception 13 years ago – and yes – it rained all day!!!

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