Strangers No Longer

Despite our living in Evesham for just over nine years now (I know, where has the time gone?) none of us have ever availed ourselves of Evesham's very own, real life Regatta ...... 

...... however, over the weekend Darrell and the ever fragrant Alice decided to break their duck, metrologically speaking, to no longer be strangers to the event.

It was, they said, all quite lovely, making them feel very English as they shouted tally ho to all the boats that swept passed them by way of encouragement.

It was also quite an eye opener to the sport .......

...... with all the fetching and carrying of boats (?), oars/paddles(?) and the yelling of instructions from a small person at the front to keep going (in a straight line) and faster. Not to mention a whole new, riveting vocabulary to get to grips with, like  rowlocks, cox, strokes, bow ball, spoon, length, extraction and finish being bandied about with gay abandon!

Alice was also glad that she'd decided to dress for the occasion as there were quite a lot of very good looking, university type gentlemen in tight lycra that she really hadn't quite anticipated!  What is she like?

Darrell was also suitably impressed, by the rowing, not the aforesaid good looking, lycra clad gentleman, but decided that although it all looked very exciting in a refined Henley sort of way ......

...... it was probably not the sport for him, considering that he is a martyr to his rampant seasickness the moment he hits the water in any sort of floating vessel!

However, he had to agree with Alice, that with the beautiful sunshine and light breeze, a smattering of striped blazers, club ties and the odd Panama, it was all rather romantic ........

...... wondering what you needed to do/be to have tea served to you in the posh marquee.......

........ or sit in an official, striped deckchair in the sectioned off area ...... perhaps they'll know by next year ........