Let's party!

It's the tradition here in Cravant for individual roads, once a year to have a party with all their neighbours.

Our road had its party in July. We all pay annual subs into our 'road fund', which our committee uses for general road business and maintenance. A bit of it also goes on party essentials. Being a cul-de-sac, there's a perfect position for a marquee at the end of our road, which along with the tables, chairs and glasses, is hired from the mairie. The wine/water come from the party 'budget' but again this year, as previously, the mayor of Cravant, Christophe Baudry, provided a crate of wine to boost supplies. Much appreciated! Although he is the largest wine producer in the Chinon region. www.baudry-dutour.fr   Party food is down to the neighbours. Usually a form goes round which you fill in saying what you'll bring, which Corinne - Madame Président - then co-ordinates. This year we had twenty-five adults, five children and a baby. The 'boys', including Mike, put up the marquee that had been delivered with the other bits and pieces, by tractor and trailer from the mairie.

Our menu is organised along traditional lines. So for Party 2012 the neighbours provided:
an apéro and nibbles. Entrées (four ). Main courses dishes and salads (three of each). Cheese boards (two). Four desserts. Coffee.  Wines were a choice of red, white, rosé and pétillant to go with the dessert.

It was a glorious day. We began at 12 noon. Non stop banter, laughter and messing about. Delicious food and wines. The children were having a ball, and were all playing together quite happily. The oldest was 8 and the others aged between 3 and 5.  At 7pm we stopped for a walk and a game of boules in our next door neighbour's garden.

Then we went back to the marquee and started all over again! 
The party finished around 10.30pm. Then we cleared up, loading all the hired equipment back on the trailer that had been parked further up our road, ready for collection the next day. By 11.30pm we were done. A truly brilliant day.