Wheelbarrow Races

The occasion was our annual Summer Group Reunion, at which we entertain at home as many former members of my research group as can make it. This year, there were about 40 participants, including various offspring.

We spanned a good range of years this time. One of my earliest researchers (Ian, started 1967) was complemented by Craig and Christian (finished 2005).

We have two sets of photographs (so far) as a record of the event.

These are photographs that I took.

And these are pictures from Mariana, Ian and Rhodelle.

As usual, Carlos, who hails from South America and thus has the skills in his blood, took charge of the barbecue, and several of the photographs show him at work, while others show the products being cooked or devoured. The whole event was organised superbly by Craig, ably assisted by his friend Matt.

The wheelbarrow business started with Wheelbarrow Rides, which subsequently developed into Wheelbarrow Races, and ultimately degenerated into Wheelbarrow Dodgems. These wheelbarrows, just so recently used for moving earth and manure, were discovered by someone and put to work without giving thought to the immediate past use. One of the mothers subsequently complained (light heartedly) that her son's pristine white clothing was no longer so pristine as a consequence of the hosts' lack of forthought in not thoroughly cleaning the barrows. Another of the mothers was perhaps more realistic, and wrote to us "Thank you for having us round and for the loan of your unclean wheelbarrows. Fortunately, [the two children] were GOA (grubby on arrival) so we didn't notice." (these are the mother and children in our Blipfoto here).

Anyway, the children seemed to have much fun, which they enhanced by falling out of the tree, tripping over on the path, eating very hot lamb fillet on the skewers straight off the BBQ, developing fights between the sexes ("Dad, do you know what the boys did?"), and being taught by George how to hit (or not hit: I didn't work it out) him on the head.

The adults had a few drinks!

All this and more can be seen in the photograph sets.