happy birthday Steve!

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

The Beatles 

Given the awful weather this winter, I imagine that in recent months very few people have woken up on their birthday morning to blue skies and bright sunshine.  Steve is one of the lucky ones - Happy Birthday, Steve!  Let's hope it's a good omen for the year ahead :-)

This time last year we were on a farm in Cornwall for the week and visited the Eden Project on Steve's birthday, in blissful ignorance of what lay ahead in the coming months. No galavanting about the country for a week this year due to the CT scan and X-ray appointment on Thursday. However, the birthday celebration will spread over a longer period to compensate.  

We started today with a meal out in the Ashmolean roof-level dining room, followed by celebratory fizz and chocolate birthday cake at home, with a walk in between to burn some calories and work up an appetite.

On Friday night we will be celebrating with daughter Katie and her partner George, back in Oxford for the weekend. On Saturday night, we'll be in Bristol where we will be continuing the celebration with a home-cooked birthday meal courtesy of our nephew Nick, his partner Kate with entertainment by their beautiful baby daughter, Esme.  Jack will be there stocking up on carbs to give him energy for his Half Marathon in Bath, the following morning.  Many thanks again to all those who have sponsored him to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

And it goes on - there's a flying lesson to be arranged (thank you Jon and Sally!) and a session in a very fast car, off-road, to get the adrenalin pumping.  Steve's determined to carry on enjoying such experiences whether Leo likes it, or not.  

A note in a birthday card from a neighbour asked if this was a "big" birthday for Steve, then added that they are probably all big birthdays now.  So right Jean!  We're looking forward to Steve's millionth binary birthday in twelve months time, but will try to make the most of every day between then and now.....

.....which reminds me, having opened the blog with one Beatle's song, looking forward to this time next year it seems appropriate to close with another (and the answer to the question in the lyrics is YES, Steve!)

When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now.
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine.

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?