Fourth of July 2010

Ah time flies when you're having fun. Is it really that time already? After more than a year on this side of the pond, the idea of the Fourth of July is sad to say, not nearly as exciting as it was this time last year, eagerly waiting to see what all the fuss was about. In addition to the weary eyes of experience, the weather this year has not been nearly so kind as last. Fourth of July 2009 we had to hide inside because it was too hot. This year...well, you'll see.

I started the weekend off with a cook off, knowing that socializing would be a large part of the holiday and that a pot luck would be inevitable, and also that if I made it all now, I wouldn't have to cook all weekend. It worked well.


Eight different dishes, using maybe 10 different ingredients? And a whole hunk of garlic.

Saturday was marked by the start of the Tour de France. Everyone was hyped up for it thanks to some excellent movies and an exciting line up. The Hub opened early so that we could all cram in to watch it live.

Tony has pink knee warmers on too.

Sunday morning started grey and early. The planes were out practicing for their show later on in the day. I was treated to a private window view of the action. It was fascinating for a good 20 minutes, then the bone shaking noise became a little fatiguing.


Around 12 we decided it was time to go down to the Freedom Fair. By this time last year, the streets near our apartment were filled with incomers' cars. This year not a single one. The weather was putting lots of people off. Down at the water front it was busy, but not crazy. It was mainly people from the nearby area rather than the hoards of extras we saw last year. You can tell where people are from depending on the car the drive, the shoes they wear and the size of their jewelery.

Ford had some display vehicles.


Perhaps a little excessive for Ruston Way?

The Skid Kings Vintage Bicycle club were out in all their finery, as were the vintage car owners.



After a decidedly muted walk all along the waterfront, the highlight of which was getting to the honey buckets at the end and finding no hand wash left and having to walk all the way back down with poopy hands, we decided to go home and have a little snooze (and wash our hands).

Then it was of to Philip and Annie's house. We let them keep their flag this year. I mentioned it was colder than last year...



Then on to Philip and Brooke's place to watch the fireworks on the water. We felt like film stars as we walked down their driveway with all the people who couldn't make it to the water sitting on their wall to watch (they have a plum spot on the hill).

This was the 'Grand Finale'.


It was an austerity display year.