Going for Gold - The Sequel

Going for Gold – The Sequel! Approx 642 words

I should have known the party would go off all right but that didn’t stop me worrying, especially when I had a few last minute cancellations! I kept thinking why did I go for a party, why not a cruise? But I like to see people, especially those that live a long way away and so don’t see very often.

I have to say the costumes were wonderful; a real selection from the 1940’s era. My husband was going to be an evacuee but I soon vetoed that idea on the grounds that as it was our party he should out rank everyone else. I wanted him to be a Brigadier or its naval equivalent but the highest rank I could find was a naval lieutenant so that had to do but I also wanted a nice bit of fruit salad but no I couldn’t find that either.

Anyhow we had three wartime cleaners, one land army girl, four forces sweethearts, one air raid warden, one barge owner, several gangsters, a French Onion seller and the rest were made up of various military personnel both male and female and there were also a number of civilians dressed appropriately.

The food was laid out beautifully and looked very appetizing with the very accommodating caterers on hand to serve. However, the piece de résistance was without doubt the cake. It was decorated with Union Jack bunting around the sides and on the top there was a bouquet of Freesias which were the flowers in my original bouquet. Then there was an ‘A’ frame which stated ‘Dance here tonight at 7.00pm’ and on the other side it said ‘To the Glen Miller Orchestra.’ There was a ration book with our name on it and finally something I am always being told I need…a medal! The cake maker thought that we should definitely include a medal what with this being the year of the Olympics. I was a bit afraid the top of the cake would look a bit over done but no it looked great!

Then, one of my daughter’s friends is a radio producer and he made up a CD with sirens, speeches and solemn music and the DJ played some Gracie Fields before playing music for everyone of any age to dance to. We had camouflage netting, sand bags, bunting and flags outside as well as a sign that said This Way to the Shelter with an arrow pointing towards the entrance to the village hall. We also had a grenade that my husband intended to roll on to the dance floor to clear any stragglers. I hasten to add it was not live. I know this because when I showed it to one of my daughters she said, taking hold of the pin ‘So is this the pin that has to be pulled out?’ and with that the pin came out. We both looked at each other before I said ‘I’m not sure if we should start running?’ Fortunately, there was no need.

Then we had the toast and finally the short speeches. I thanked everyone for coming and all the usual things one says on these occasions but I did not have the courage to read out my poem but it was up on the wall for everyone to read, should they want to. Then my husband said his piece which almost brought tears to my eyes. He started by saying,

“I know I am a lucky man to have Moya as my wife for all these years and throughout that time she has supported me through thick and thin. Not many people know this but we met at an amateur dramatics society when she was fourteen and I was twenty one. I will never forget how I happened to look up and caught first sight of Moya on stage with her face softly illuminated by the stage lights and it was there and then that it hit me like a bolt of lightning as I thought to myself…What an ugly cow!’ And that is why I love him!

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