A PARTY IN PARADISO.
L-R. Catharine, Daniel, Blue, Jonathon, Samuel, Helen, Julie and Ray.
Click on any of the following pictures to enlarge them.
Twice a year, I venture to Portugal to stay with my wonderful friends, Ray and Helen Wickham. They live at Swallow Farm [Quinta das Andorhinas] in the foothills of the Sierra da Monchique. On 29th March 2004, I arrived there again. And so began 8 days of tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of my normal life.
Or so I thought! Perhaps I should expand on events.
I was aware that Ray &Helen had a surprise this visit. I hadn't reckoned on the one they had!
We drove off to Faro airport on the 3rd of April 2004 and waited in the reception area for my 'surprise'. They had a banner which said...."Welcome....BLUE RYAN" but I was still puzzled. 'Blue Ryan'? Who the heck was 'Blue Ryan'? It wasn't long before a big guy walked out of customs and towards us. This was 'Blue Ryan'? Indeed it was! I was a dullard! Blue Ryan was Catharine Wickham's dad! Catharine is the wife of Jonathon, Ray and Helen's son who also live in The Algarve and Catharine had not seen her dad for three years! What's more, she didn't know 'Blue' was arriving either!
Amid much handshaking and hugging, I found all this out. Perhaps I should tell you that Catharine is a favourite 'lassie' of mine. Not only is she amazingly beautiful, she's the same on the inside too! So, I was extremely pleased at my 'surprise. *wink* And so we drove back to 'Paradiso'.
The following day was the 4th of April, Jonathon's birthday and a party had been arranged. Much ado about everything went on that day and finally, at lunchtime, Jon and Catharine arrived along with Julie, partner of Martin [another of Ray and Helen's sons] and two of her children, Samuel and Daniel.
'Blue' hid away while Jon and Catharine made themselves comfortable.
And then 'Blue' came out! Jonathon saw Blue first and simply swore! I won't tell you what he said but it was something along the lines of...."Oh, hello. This IS a surprise!" *wink* Catharine turned and immediately went into a 'tizzy'......and then they hugged!
The hug!!!!!!!!
Occasions like this are rare in life and are to be treasured. Father and daughter re-united after 3 years. Catharine deserves this...she is a lovely, lovely lass. Dad travelled thousands of miles just for this hug. Well done Blue Ryan!
And so the party got into a swing. Good food, champagne, fine wines and wonderful company under a blue sky in Paradiso.
O how I love this place in the sun! I have travelled to many places in my life but this small valley in southern Portugal is heaven on earth. The memories I have of this place and times spent with my wonderful friends see me through the dark, damp nights of an English winter. I was due another memory!
The two boys, Samuel and Daniel had wandered off. Suddenly, they burst into the open, fighting with water pistols. Sam was winning the battle. He would - he's the biggest and eldest! So, silly old me decided to give Daniel a hand. We chased Sam around for a while and the 'water pistol fight' grew into a 'water receptacle fight'. Water pistols were abandoned and anything which held water was fair game. Daniel decided to go one better. Out came the hose! Now, anything was fair game. Amid much laughter [both from the participants and the onlookers] the water fight descended into chaos and ended with all three of us being soaked completely.
Click on any of the following images to see the chaos!
I'm going to get ya says Daniel!
I might be wet, but I'm still going!
Aw Mike....you soaked me! says Samuel.
Get away from my car Daniel!
Ooooh. You little Monkey! The car's soaked Ray!
Heh heh heh.
Changed and dry. Friends again.
Time for a smoke with the girls.
"Have a warm on my cake Blue" says Jonathon.
What a great day!
The afternoon passed. Julie and the boys departed back to their home. The evening came upon us and it was time for dinner. With a log fire burning merrily, we wined and dined again to celebrate Jonathon's birthday.
"I still can't believe it!"
Saluté mes amigos!
This was the 4th of the 4th 2004.......a wonderful day full of wonderful memories and one that will live on in our hearts all the days of our lives.
Thank you my wonderful friends....Ray and Helen Wickham. XXXX