Get-togethers

The Lowertown West Community Association held a barbeque in Bordeleau Park round the corner from our house yesterday, in order to raise funds for the "revitalization" of this park, occasionally the scene of sleazier activities. Chris raises people's eyebrows by referring to it as Bordello Park, but it's not that bad. We were full of good intentions to support this event (and donated a sight-seeing flight in PTN as one of the raffle prizes), but so many other things were happening yesterday that we failed to show up. For the thirteenth year running, we missed seeing Ottawa's Dragon Boat races, as well.

After a three hour meeting (AGM) of my Diplomatic Hospitality Group at Kathy's house on Friday I was glad to be outdoors in sunny weather on Saturday at the Concours d'Élégance organised jointly by the Flying Club and the Ottawa Jaguar Club, some of whose aficionados got there at 7:30a.m. and didn't leave till after 5 p.m.—rather a long time to spend admiring rows of cars, if you ask me, but it all depends on your degree of dedication. Several Jag owners even polish their tyres (tires) for these occasions; I must admit that the old cars exude stylishness and do look good in conjunction with the aeroplanes.

After one of Tony's burgers we had to hurry away to an 80th birthday party at a church hall in Alta Vista. Quite a different atmosphere here. Actually I had a very good time at the party as it gave me the chance to introduce Chris, at last, to a couple of my friends from our German group in the company of their husbands whom I hadn't met before either: Peter, a travel consultant, and Craig, a former Canadian ambassador to Helsinki—we six younger(!) ones sat together round a tea table and enjoyed each other's stories and enthusiasms. Melita herself radiated pleasure in the whole company and her birthday (postponed from April 23rd to June 21st rather like the Queen's) was celebrated by the cutting of her phenomenal Cake (see picture).

At the end of the party each of the ladies present came away with a "loot bag" containing one of Melita's treasures collected from the many, many countries she and her husband have visited. That was a nice gesture. In my bag was a pretty little blue vase from China.

Our next destination was the Flying Club again, where Chris had left his bike. I drove home, he rode home, before smartening ourselves up for the second time and setting off for another party, this one the annual German-Canadian barbeque hosted by a German military family, all four of whom have been for a ride in PTN at one time or another. Many diplomats and military attachés were in the garden but it's always a very informal affair with little children milling around, playing with balls and ice-cubes and building towers out of beer cans. There was a three year old present who, encouraged by his mother, could recite the Bayernhymne from memory. One never knows whom one is going to meet on these occasions and one has to be quick at switching from one language to another when moving from group to group. The highlight of each year's party is when Uwe suddenly brings out his bagpipes and plays to his friends, at which all conversation ceases. My picture here is of one of the children at the party lost in admiration of such a tremendous noise.