The Oxford Harmony BBQ was once again generously hosted by hardworking chairman Clive and his wife Carol supported by two lovely helpful neighbours at Besselsleigh.

On a lovely clear-skyed ‘autumnal’ early evening with not a drop of breeze, 25 of us were welcomed into their house and back garden where 3 BBQs were attentively tended by Clive and and his neighbour while Carol and the other neighbour received our offerings of salad and other accompaniments or sweets while busily prepping and cooking and topping-up the refreshing fruit punches.

 The 15 member guests and 10 wives/partners met and chatted with each other while the prep continued and it was good to reconnect with each other socially again and particularly for the 5 who had not experienced that gathering before.

  As other drinks were consumed and Clive’s tally list started to fill-up we got the call ‘its ready’ and it wasn’t long before the meticulously cooked burgers, sausages, chicken, carved pork joint and vegetarian options were being eagerly ‘scoffed’ with a fabulous choice of savoury accompaniments too numerous to list here.

We hardly seemed to dent the available foodstuffs so for many a return to the serving table was inevitable. 

As the evening quickly moved on and with darkness and coolness arriving despite a warming fiery brazier in the garden, most of us drifter indoors and the wonderful array of puddings and cakes were too good to resist and again for some second helpings still couldn’t empty many of the serving plates. I personally was unusually defeated from trying everything and with a final mouthful I was caught out as the singing started.

 We must have sung 5 or 6 numbers although strangely, I thought, we didn’t have a go at “Dayton Ohio 1903″….and it’s invitation to ‘come over for tea’ !!

Jeff then offered a round of thanks to our hosts and their helpers for such a lovely time together.

 Gerry who had kindly provided 2 boxes of wine was the first to leave but having been one of the first to arrive and park, it meant several members or their partners juggling their cars to get Gerry out ready for his long journey back to Reading!

 Before too long it was time for us all to say our thank yous and goodbyes with members being encouraged to take some of the leftovers home but leaving our hosts and helpers with a lot of clearing up still to do but I think it’s fair to say we all had a lovely time together.