Party time

S and R live on a new housing estate on the edge of the village which has grown like Topsy since the first holes were dug in 2012. The neighbours across from them, A and C, were among the first residents, and they were very helpful when S and R moved into their unfinished house a few years later. 

From the outside, these estates look very exclusive and unsocial with much concern for building high walls, installing automatic gates and entryphones,  and making sure the neighbours can't see in. But their corner of the estate has become a real community, everyone socialising and helping each other out. A and C invited a crowd this evening, including us -- the only ones not to live on the estate. I didn't count but there must have been about 16 of us round the table.

After copious aperos, C served a very generous meal. The main course was a Creole sausage dish which she'd thoughtfully made in two versions: spicy and not-spicy. And dessert was two magnificent home-made tarts. We made short work of the lemon meringue. Home at close to 1 a.m.