What I wrote and said
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance, and usually in summer.
Picnics are often family-oriented but can also be an intimate occasion between two people or a large get-together such as company picnics and church picnics. It is also sometimes combined with a cookout, usually a form of barbecue;
On romantic and family picnics a picnic basket and a blanket (to sit or recline on) are usually brought along. Outdoor games or some other form of entertainment are common at large picnics.(wiki)
…“What's inside it?” asked the Mole, wriggling with curiosity
“There's cold chicken inside it,” replied the Rat briefly, “coldtongue coldham coldbeef cold duck pickled gherkins saladfrenchroll sandwich pottedmeat gingerbeer lemonade sodawater.
Oranges Pkchewing gum pink Wafers beadyeyes millsandboon bumblebees chips lettuce
The Picnic and all ideas associated with it formed an integral part of our childhood. Dad made a very sturdy wicker basket to carry everything necessary in. Mum packed an ample chili bin and the car boot was stuffed with extra tarploins for the rain and a boat with all the gear just in case.
On arriving at our destination we would drive around not being allowed out of the car in order to find the perfect spot..often inhabited by someone else much to mums disgust. I am sure it was hours..but once there we were allowed to check out the water, a major requirement..and sneak a snack from the basket.Mum would park herself with her mills and boon and dad would charge off with the dog to see what was over the hill.
It was on these picnics that I developed a love for looking through grass at spiders nests and the smell of manuka in the sun. an apprecaition of going somewhere where there were no people and the sound and feel of river water.
Our lives as children were filled with animals alive and dead, books, music and party plates of chippies and peanuts on special occasions. Phili and I both love tupperware and bright colour. We are keen on gardening and the natural world.
The Wind in the Willows was quoted because I went to sleep as a child listening to it though a wee yellow speaker that Dad made that was in my room.
As with all creative and independent people life is not dull.
It was a constantly dynamic environment in which we grew up and it has enriched me beyond measure. Heres to my parents..whom I love through all their thicks and thins and remember although life life is not a picnic theres always time to lay down a cloth and open a bag of chips and a bottle of beer.
People who sneak food
my mothers hand
my Aunty growling at me for taking a photo of her sneaking more trifle
What our cat did this summer
what we did
Grace and Andrew Devlin..HURRAH!
My summer journalling spot
Sounds like a beautiful occasion to celebrate special people and special family traditions.x
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