Street Party 2009

As the coloured flags fluttered prettily in the wind beneath the glorious sunshine, you just knew it was going to be a day to be remembered.

A day, where Elvis Presley turned up looking just perfect and won first prize Elvis was delighted. Not so the winner of the Father's egg and spoon race who won a posing pouch (which he returned - can't think why?) Or the winner of second prize was which "Just for Men" This is guaranteed to turn the greyest man into a black swan, according to Des, but Des how do you know?

The contents of the piñata a heavily laden treasure chest brought squeals of delight from the children as they collected the hordes of sweets. Parents' smiling indulgently, behind each smile of course was the fear of the inevitable sugar rush!

The Street party quiz had us all thinking, but not as much as the enigmatic bingo calling "3 hedgehogs- number 13"?

The limbo competition had us all rapt, we all cheered hugely as both Bill and his grandson Harry came away with prizes. Bill you certainly know how to move...

The tables groaned, piled high with salads, salmon, chicken, quiches and flans of every sort, not forgetting the paella of course.

And the deserts wow, well suffice to say there were cakes, pies and tarts of every description ( I am only talking of the foodie kind) - you name it we in Farrer Road can do it .....

The cooks at the BBQ did us all proud, as Nick the "sausage man" procured enough that if all the sausages were laid end to end it would be at least one full length of Farrer Rd if not twice. The amount of vegetable kebabs prepared were enough to feed all us for the rest of the summer, Park Avenue South, Warner Road, and I guess you get the idea...

Of course this all taking place against an eclectic back drop of music, unlike Glastonbury and Hyde Park the day did not find us knee deep in rain and mud. No, we could enjoy Vincent's singing in brilliant sunshine. And listen to the selection from our very own resident DJ Janson (now heard on national radio courtesy of XFM).

Well towards the end of the day something monumental happened, we all saw history in the making. For the first time ever the Odds won the Tug - of- War! As I live on the Evens side of the road I would be tempted to say we let them win, you know for charitable reasons, but no we were out tugged!! But hey there is next year

Then there was barn dance, who would have thought that when dawn broke that morning that by the time the sun was beginning to go down the odds and the evens would be dancing and you would be dancing with your neighbour.

And that is what this very special day is about, community, laughter sharing, caring and a sense of belonging.

When the bunting was going up, you knew suddenly the day was worth all those late night meetings, the copious emails, editing newsletters, budgets, planning organising, cajoling of sponsors (and a BIG THANK YOU to all of them). Answering weighty and difficult questions, such as "how many baguettes? " And where is the Sausage man?" to "who will buy the posing pouch?" Oh and " is there any more red wine left in that bottle?".....

Babs