Tuesday, 7th June, was the first Tuesday in June. The monthly RNA Oxford Chapter lunch is always held on the first Tuesday of the month at The Victoria Arms, Old Marston. But not this June!
In the week that would be ending with the birthday of Annie Burgh, pillar of the Oxford Chapter, and long-time friend and mentor to writers published and unpublished, we decided to break with tradition and take the lunch to Annie, who now lives near Cleveden.
Annie at the last Ox Lunch before she moved away
As you’ll see from the few photos below, the weather approved of our decision, and the sun shone down on Annie and Billy’s lovely garden.
Annie talks to Maggi Fox & Rebecca Leith (sitting), Carl Pengelly, Bev, Julie Roberts & Catherine Jones (standing)
Catherine Jones, Katie Carr, Gilli Allan chat while waiting for others to arrive
Jean Buchanan (sitting) and Catherine Lawless
Maggi Fox
Billy waits for everyone to sit down
Julie Roberts (standing) with Maggi Fox & Jean Buchanan (sitting)
Bev, me
Gilli Allan, Jean Buchanan
Bev and bottle, Julie Roberts, Katie Carr and Catherine Jones
Chatting, a glass in hand
Food!
Carl Pengelly, Catherine Lawless & Catherine Jones at the buffet
Rebecca Leith, Maggi Fox, Catherine Jones, Julie Roberts, Billy, and Catherine Lawless wait while the others get their food
At the table
You can’t have special lunch, in a birthday week, without cake! Katie Carr organised the cakes, which were iced with icing covers of three of Annie’s books. Each cake was a different flavour. Not only did they look amazing, but they were absolutely delicious.
The cakes!!
Annie with Katie Carr
Annie, Katie Carr and Bev, who’s getting ready to pour wine for our toast
Crowding round to look at the cakes
I shall leave you now with a last glimpse of Annie and the cakes, on what was a really lovely occasion. I hope you’ve enjoyed the few moments I’ve been able to capture here, with the aid of Julie Roberts and Carl Pengelly, who kindly added their photos to mine.
May the coming year be a healthy, happy one, Annie!
It looks fabulous – especially those amazing cakes. So sorry I couldn’t be there.
We were sorry, too, Jane. The cakes were marvellous. Not only were they really delicious, but they looked so good. It was such a shame to eat them. Having decorated icing is an idea I shall certainly use in the future myself.
This is a lovely blog Liz – super photographs, delicious looking food – not to mention stupendous idea for the cakes, and obviously a lovely day and happy atmosphere. Jolly well done all of you.
Many thanks for your comment, Gwen. It was a really lovely day. I became so caught up in chatting that I forgot to take many photos. That’s always the sign of a good day!
What a day! What wonderful friends! It was without doubt a perfect day and even if it wasn’t quite my birthday it felt as if it was. Talk of books, of writing, of aims and ambitions, who we love and who we loath. Brilliant. Thank you all for coming such a distance. I’d like to make this an annual event.
Absolutely, Annie! Now that we’ve found the way, we should do so again. It was great fun. Cheers to the next time!
Such a terrific day, and wonderful company. We had a great time.
Didn’t we just, Maggi! It was such fun.
I was very pleased to be able to join in the celebrations, despite being a very hit and miss member of the Oxford Chapter. It was a great day. Happy Birthday, Annie. Gillixxx
You’re an important part of the Ox lunch group, Gilli, even if you aren’t always able to get to the lunches. It was lovely that you were able to make it to Annie’s last week.
It was a fantastic day. The weather improving as we enjoyed out party food, friendly chatter and three delicious book cakes to choose from. I had a slice from The Azure Bowl, the first book I read of Annie’s and is still one of my favourites.
Thank you for your comment, Julie. I believe that I ate some of that book, too. I did, if it was the coconut and lime cake, which was wonderful!
What a lovely celebration for Annie’s birthday. I wish I had been there. Love to all xxxx
That would have been super, Emma. it’s far too long since we’ve seen you. Come to Oxford SOON, and that’s an order!! Bossy? Moi??
What a lovely day! I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there; the company, food, decorated book-cakes and sunshine in Annie’s lovely garden made it a memorable day for a wonderful novelist.
Heather
We, too, were sorry you couldn’t be there, Heather, but we understood why you couldn’t join us. It was a lovely day, enhanced by the sun coming out as we reached Annie’s house.
It was a lovely day and I feel honoured to be have been a part of it.
Annie is such an inspiration.
That’s absolutely right, Carl – Annie is inspirational, and it’s lovely that we had a chance to show her what she means to us. Thank you again for letting me use some of your photos.
It looks as if you had a wonderful time, and those cakes look fabulous. I’m glad the sun shone.
A belated Happy Birthday to Annie too.
We were so lucky with the weather, Jean. The sun put the final touch to what was a most enjoyable afternoon.