sliprail: The Tradition Rolls On

For 10 years Gibbo's family came to us at Ar***i to celebrate "Boxing Day and Beyond". At the big house we had the space - lots of bedrooms, vast kitchen/dining/lounge area, two bathrooms, an enormous verandah, a pool, a tennis court and a huge yard for sports/games/running/parking caravans - and we had a lot of meat. Even the year we had a near flood and were rained in for 3 days (trucks couldn't get commodities in or cattle in/out) we didn't notice because we were well prepared with provisions, well sheltered and high and dry on the ridge. Over the years the families all came, first as singles, then couples then with children in tow. One year there was 30 of us on and off over the few days. There was much organisation (a food roster and a clean up roster) and many activities. Pool volleyball, normal volleyball, softball, archery, slug gun comp, buzz, bananagram, hundreds of games of 500, Ar***i Survivor and even an Ar***i Idol (where I played Star of the County Down on the tin whistle; I was fabulous but didn't win).

Last year we moved to a place of our own and for the first time in many years there wasn't really an "official" BD&B. We didn't have the space at the new house for an extra 30 bodies and, to be frank, I was tired. Even though everyone who came each year pitched in and helped and did their bit I wanted to enjoy the week between christmas and new year without having a house overflowing with guests. So we visited G's family instead last year.

However, G's niece and her husband recently bought a couple of acre property outside Twba complete with a rambling 1970's style house, enormous outdoor area and a fantastic yard with secret garden, pool, tennis court - and loads of space. So the tradition continues - they have picked up the baton and are now the hosts of Boxing Day and Beyond, Gibbons style.

This year's main activity could become an annual one. A colour run was first up, followed by a water bomb fight (that pitted family against family) then a dip/wash off in the pool. I was the Special Events Photographer and still managed to get a water bomb in the back!

Warning - in excess of 50 photos following.

Guinea pig must have been freaked out by all the noise.

The procession headed off to The Paddock.

Before.

The Painters placed themselves strategically along the running track.

Meg, psyching herself up.

The Little Ones went first. They all thought it was wonderful!

I have no idea what these two found so amusing but it sure looks like it was funny.

Gibbo trying to avoid his sister....

and his brother in law...

and his niece. Strangely, everybody was out to get him. Can't imagine why.

After.

Isn't this sweet?

Even Coco got in on the act.

Then the water fight started. Each family had a bucket full of water balloons.

Gibbo caught one.

Then everyone hit the pool to wash the paint off - except it didn't wash off! They had used acrylic paint, not water based! It had to be scrubbed off with soap.