Saturday 25th September, Family Reunion

Today we were meeting up at St Leonards Hotel, Ringwood. We had planned to leave at 8.30 but it was nearer 9 by the time we got away. When we left the mileage was showing as 102 miles to next fill up but we were still on 100 miles to go when we got to M25. I love my car. It averaged 45 mpg today.

We were the first to arrive so we set up in the bar area enjoying a local brew. Richard and Tony joined us. As the family were arriving, we played the usual game of who are you. We had been put on a table with Peter and his girl friend Leona, Tyra and James. Peter's little girl Amelia abandoned us to sit with her cousin, Ruby. Peter is Lionel and Mary's son.... and that's about as far as we got with remembering. Later doing introductions around a table there was Mary, Meryl, Maurine, Marion and Molly. Didn't realise that we had so many M's in the family! After dinner the boys were playing paper aeroplanes with everyone's place cards. One ended up in the rafters, as did one of the younger members of the family when he somehow climbed up to rescue a helium balloon.

The journey back was just as easy going, Dave was asleep before we got to the M27 and slept to Clacket Lane Services. The only slow bit was as soon as we left the M3 and joined the M25, we came to a stop. Luckily it soon started moving again.

I was back in time to go to Chris's. The films tonight were “In Bruges” and “Equilibrium”. Both were good films. Not sure if we worked out a loose connection like we usually do.

In Bruges is a 2008 British/Irish black comedy starring Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes. I think Dave would like it as it's not American.

Equilibrium is a 2002 American Science Fiction film that stars Christian Bale. In a futuristic world, they have eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Cleric John Preston (Bale) is a top ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. When he misses a dose of the mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce the strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing it.