Posie's Blog. Tales of island life on a hebridean hill farm

Posie's Blog. Tales of island life on a hebridean hill farm

Monday 4 June 2007

Party Burgers





Somebody must have told those pigs that we were having a barbecue; either that or they had heard that the happy farmer was making his own homemade pork and apple burgers! Whatever, on the day of the party those pigs were not for hanging around; they kept getting out and going AWOL. First time was when I got a phone call from one of our friends who had just come off the morning ferry to say he was stood in the pouring rain in our yard with two pigs chasing around, squealing like mad. The poor lady who was doing the cottage changeovers was hiding in the doorway of the cottage, too terrified to come out. From my previous encounters, and now that I am confident that those piggys won’t eat my legs, I coolly and confidently walked over and herded those pigs into the ponies’ field. The pigs immediately began to chase the horses causing even more excitement, I think even the animals were getting ready to party!

Of course the happy farmer managed to get the pigs back into their ‘home’, only to get a phone call, just as people were due to start arriving to say those piggys were on the loose again, this time they had gone off down to the main road. He duly went and reclaimed them and put them in a more secure area, personally I think those pigs were afraid that the party might get in the way of them getting a mention in this blog, talk about stealing the limelight!

I had an absolute ball at the party. The house was heaving, as over 40 friends and family boogied, ate, drank, and sang. The ‘burger bar’, aka the happy farmer in his horse box, or my new sun lounge as I was referring to it, was a huge success, as people huddled in out of the rain, watching the happy farmer cook, sing, dance and clatter those barbie tongs. The house was jumping. At midnight everyone sang ‘happy birthday’, and I was given a candelabra to blow out, and was just about to burst into tears at the thought of being 40, when my brother enveloped me in a huge bear hug. My friend Sheena, who has a fantastic voice, she sings at the jazz festival and has a CD out to raise funds for cystic fibrosis, sang me a beautiful Gaelic song, followed by a couple of blues numbers, as everyone, clapped and swayed to her beautiful voice, and the party continued long after the children had gone off to bed or been collected by babysitters, well into the ‘wee small hours’, as we laughed, sang, shrieked, hugged, fought over music, and generally had a good old time.

Sunday morning arrived, and the happy farmer presented me with a gorgeous little package, inside was a lovely ring box, and as I opened it, there shone a lovely polo mint, in true happy farmer style. I didn’t even get to try it on as eldest daughter’s hand shot out and ate it before I got a chance! Later as he cooked mounds of eggs and bacon, as bleary eyed people surfaced for breakfast from various corners of the farm, he slipped a beautiful new ring onto my finger. He even wore the slim fit, pink stripy shirt I had bought him specially for the party, having given up coffee for several weeks to fit into it, and also so I would stop referring to him as the happy fatty farmer, and even though his daughters are mortified that he should dare to wear pink, and even though he is always a jeans and tee shirt person. Bless him!

Until next time….

11 comments:

Chris Stovell said...

Very happy belated bithday. it sounds a lovely day - the pigs were certainly in festive mood weren't they! And, lucky girl, being presented with a new ring... I might have to show this blog to Tom.

Un Peu Loufoque said...

Happy bnirthday and you sound as if you have a good man there hang on to him!!

Sally Townsend said...

Woweeeeee even the rain could not dampen that party !

toady said...

Sounds like a brilliant party. Many Happy Returns and don't worry about being 40. It's the next one with a zero on the end that's a bit of a worry.

muddyboots said...

happy birthday, sounds like a grand party! as for those little porkers, well, sage & onion stuffing?

Suffolkmum said...

Happy belated birthday Posie, it sounds fantastic. Wow, a ring - I'll have to have words with R....

JacquiMcR said...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY POSIE" sounds like a fabulous time was had by all. Isn't your hubby a sweetie. He sounds a lot like mine with the exception of the pink shirt. My hubby would die rather than wear pink (he can be a little old fashioned sometimes). Thanks for your lovely description of the scenery. Pity about the rain, but hey, it is Scotland!

Take care - Jacqui x

Bluestocking Mum said...

Welcome to the club Posie!! We are same age now, although you are catching me up!

Sounds a lovely party. And your man sounds good too, bless him.

My father-in-law-was a butcher until he retired last year and made his own pork and apple burgers so I am a bit of an 'authority' on them!

warm wishes
x

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

sounds so good! i had a great 50th and loved every minute of it. farmer looks v slender and stylish.

@themill said...

Happy Birthday. Sounds fabulous and what is it with farmers? The polo mint thing is exactly the sort of thing my farmer would do - Perhaps they all have to have a sense of humour to survive!

Woozle1967 said...

And ohmigod, I missed your 40th!! Many congratulations - it sounded like you had a ball! PLEEEEASE tell me you definitely don't feel any different! It really is JUST a number isn't it? Muchos reassurance needed for November thank you! Big birthday (late, der!) hugs winging your way.xx