Parish in the Spring

Saturday.
44 people, all descendants of rectors of the village going back to the early 19thC, arrived on a warm sunny morning. Most had never met anyone else there but it felt like a school reunion. They had coffee in the garden, swapped archive material and photos of The Old Rectory and its former inhabitants and then went off for a talk in the Church, saw the newly opened crypt and came back for lunch.
Among them was Josceline Dimbleby whose book, The Cook's Companion, has been very well loved and used in our house.
It's a bit dog eared to be honest, but that didn't stop me asking her to sign it.
And the visitors' book.
After she'd complimented the homemade rhubarb and orange cake and homemade honey ice cream. Once I was confident that she'd write something lovely.

The group left for Abberley Hall but in late afternoon several of them came back for tea and cake. And then yesterday another group of them came back for lunch.

Am really chuffed.