HERE WE GO AGAIN! ANOTHER GREAT BCCCB GET TOGETHER! The Picture above gives you a glimpse of what went on in the back yard and the pictures below shows what went on in the front yard. Most members brought their cars and lined them up along the outer edge of Carol's lawn for a little show of our own. Now, Before we lined our car up, Paula and I were driving down Carol's street passing by were three children were playing. When passing by, the oldest said "there is another one". Young or old they all love these cars

There is a huge hole where Carol's pool once was, and I am sure it's breaking her heart to have it that way but you couldn't see it, it was well hidden behind a fence. This didn't take away from the back yard one bit, Carol's back yard is beautiful, what a place for a gathering. The thick lush green grass and gardens were impeccable, I couldn't imagine the work that is involved to keep this so perfect.

Lets introduce the man with the talent working with a flame, Craig. There is a lot of experience here cooking up some great food, and well, I think today is little different from the hustle and bustle that he is use to. There was no fooling around, Craig lit up two lobster pots so there would be no delay in cooking up so many of these delectable crustaceans. Heck, I seen these folks eat lobsters, a delay wouldn't be a good thing. For those who preferred steak, Craig cooked them up to perfection. Great job Craig.

Awe yes my little friends, take off those bands that bind you and get into the pot. Now I have never cooked lobsters myself, I am not a big lover of them but I m guessing that 15 or 20 minutes in the pot and they are ready. 15 or 20 minutes huh... best get at the entertainment.

Hands off the lid Jen, they aren't quite done yet. Lets get to the auction before the feast shall we. Yes that's right, this years lobster fest include an auction where members donate an item and it's auctioned off to raise funds for the club. I have to give Anita the credit for this idea and you know... it was a hit.

"BILL THE AUCTIONEER" ran a bit late and the lobsters were in the pot, time is ticking. If the lobsters get cooked before the auction is finished, there is no way these people are going to sit here listening to me, they will be off like a shot, lobster picks and claw crushers in hand. So, I started things off by spreading out the auction items giving people time to view what was available. 5 minutes later and with sweat on my forehead from worrying that I may have to try and fill "BILL THE AUCTIONEER'S" boots, which by the way would have been a very difficult task, then the worst happened. The crowd was getting anxious and they told me to start, gulp. Here we go! I could never work the crowd like Bill but I did my best. 

I started off with a couple of announcements, still killing time, and watching the corner of the house hoping "BILL THE AUCTIONEER" would appear but not as of yet. One of my announcements was that it was Brent Ross's birthday, yep he turned ??, I think the first number was a 5. Brent's trusty sidekick Joy put me up to it. Alright, moving on, Alton was the first purchaser, so far so good, and still no "BILL THE AUCTIONEER". Item #2 was offered up and there was a few offers and in the end, the hat wound up on Brent's head, perhaps another birthday gift from Joy.

I no sooner dropped the gavel (or said sold) when "BILL THE AUCTIONEER" appeared with his lovely wife Susan. Bill English is his name and working a crowd is his game. I scurried to my chair and let Bill do his magic. Man you gotta love this guy, he showed up in a great outfit to play his part and no one's money was safe, this guy could convince you to buy anything. The master went to work and the laughter was abundant. 

Paula was the record keeper and bill collector but for some reason I can't make out her writing. I'm not sure if it's from hollering or bidding that has the names and numbers looking like a doctor wrote it. To tell the truth, it's perfectly legible and my count is $238.00. 

I know, there is a lot of pictures of "BILL THE AUCTIONEER" but to tell the truth, this should be shown on video, he was excellent. There was no time for rehearsals here, Bill picked up an item and he just went to work praising up each item trying to get as much as he can. It did help however that there was a bit of a bidding war on a couple of items, namely the garage stool and the Dominican rum. Both of these item reached or came close to the $50.00 mark.

Well these are an interesting set of photos. The lobsters are piled up and ready for the taking, the question is... who did the taking first? The pile of lobsters must have been difficult to look at from across the back yard waiting for the final SOLD! to be shouted. Now below we have Joella Renzi and Ray and Georgina picking a lobster.  Who was first? Now knowing Ray, I would have bet money that he would be faster then any race horse doing a 20 yard dash getting from the auction site to the lobsters but I am thinking Joella's position gave her the advantage and got there first. I didn't take Joella's photo, Sharon did, so perhaps we will never know who was first. I may have to keep a closer eye next year and perhaps take bets on either Ray or Joella for first hands on. I seen the twinkle in Ray's eye in the past when the lobsters were served and I witnessed the same twinkle at the auction site, so Joella, if you did beat Ray this year ... my money will surely be on him next year. This man loves his lobsters.

The Lobsters on the outside and the side dishes on the inside. Boy oh boy can this crew throw together a meal. Everyone brought something and if you wished to try a bit of everything you needed a second  plates. What a crew of cooks the make up the BCCCB. One dish was a marinated cauliflower salad, if you ever hear of this again... you have to try it,,, delicious! Not to say it was more delicious then anything else it's just that it was a dish that that I have never tasted before, and it was awesome. Now in the second photo below you will see "BILL THE AUCTIONEER" is now in his everyday attire, not wanting to shoot lobster juice on his auctioneer outfit and with a hand in pocket holding a pair of wire snips (we'll get to that later) he was ready to dig in.

This is the scene outside once again, tables and chairs set up and buckets for shell were set up everywhere. This time the hollering and laughter was replaced with the sounds of slurping and lobster shells being cracked, oh the odd hick-up could be heard as well.

Bill and Susan looks as though they are having a private picnic. The wine glasses set up with lobsters and salads, oh, and the smiles. Yes the smiles, it was hard to find someone who wasn't content here at the BCCCB lobster fest, everyone had a ball.  The next photo has ole buddy Ricky sitting with his party shirt and protective sun hat hoeing into a lobster. Rick's method of opening a lobster doesn't require tools. With hands of steel he cracks open the shells with ease. This is one happy camper.

The two photos below have an interesting story about them. Bill mentioned he uses wire snips from his trunk to aid in breaking up a lobster shell. Wire cutters I said! Yes and he proceeded to show me. Take a claw, pull off the lower portion and put the snips in the cavity and snip, this cracks the claw then again on the other side and the claw shell is now in two pieces making easy access to the delicious meat inside. Great idea Bill... Again I don't eat a lot of lobsters and perhaps you seen this before .. I didn't.

Now, how does one take lobsters to a British Car Club of Cape Breton lobster fest? Well, you strap a very large lobster crate to the parcel carrier of your MGC that's how. Yes Alan strapped the crate full of lobsters to his great looking MGC. What a sight for those who seen him coming down the road. Alan my man, I like your style. This is a great BCCCB photo and I am sure it will archived as a days gone by photo to be displayed sometime down the road.

Lets see.... where do the "thank yous" begin. In no particular order I have to start with those who brought a dish, thank you. Our taste buds came alive with every fork full. To Craig, I stood by the flame for a few moments while the lobsters were cooking. On this very hot day, man oh man I didn't envy your job, the heat was ridiculous. Thank you, you did a great job. To Anita for the great idea and for those who brought an auction Item... Thank You. To "BILL THE AUCTIONEER" Man you out did yourself, your act belonged on you tube for all to see. Thank you. To the ladies who helped clean up after wards, the pitching in is what this club is all about and we all thank you. As for Carol and her hospitality, for opening up her home and her yard we thank you. I sure hope all was as perfect after we left as it was before we arrived. And last but no least, the LOBSTER HAULER... Alan, thanks for all you have done as well. I just loved your method of transporting the lobsters. Thanks Sharon for the pictures. Between you, Julian and myself, there is no missed photo opportunity while we are together.

I hate to say it... But to those who didn't make it.. well.... the story says it all, and you missed it. We'll see you next time at a great BCCCB event