busy busy busy

It came as a surprise to see that the last blog was eleven days ago.  The time has flown by, being busy busy busy.....


In the last couple of weeks we have enjoyed a great tea party on a Thames Steamer to celebrate the ruby wedding anniversary of our friends Elizabeth and Roger.  


That was followed by a long weekend in Yorkshire to visit our daughter Katie and her partner George who recently moved into a wonderful new flat in a converted mill.  A belated house-warming meal in the flat and eating out together gave us the opportunity to catch up on their news and admire the new accommodation.  While we were there last Saturday morning, we did the tour of Huddersfield town centre which has some grand Victorian buildings as well as good modern architecture on the Uni campus.  Later that day we took the train into Leeds for a walkabout, ending up at a riverside Tapas Bar where we enjoyed a meal and a couple of beers outside in the early evening sunshine.


I've done a few day's work this week, but most of the time seems to have been spent on preparations for the big party to celebrate my significant birthday, which is tomorrow. Nevertheless, we managed to make some time this evening to meet up with an old friend, Richard, over briefly from France, as he can't stay for the celebrations this weekend.  


As I write, Steve is finishing my birthday card - another Wride "special." He has had to up his game this year to compete with two amazing cards which arrived in the post this morning, one from Chris and Glyn in Cornwall, and the other from Sue in Combe.  Each card has fantastic original artwork.  I am SO impressed - thank you, thank you, thank you :-)


Our wonderful friends and neighbours have rallied round to loan us cool boxes and bags so we have somewhere to store the food supplies which are beginning to arrive for the party.  We can hardly move in the back room down stairs for boxes - balloons, helium gas, lights, tablecloths, glasses, plates, cutlery, napkins, non-perishable items of food, drink.......and that's not counting the things stored off-site, the main lights being collected on Friday afternoon and the fresh food being collected/delivered on Saturday.  Now I understand why people employ party planners to do this sort of thing!


I think tomorrow will be a relatively relaxed affair - ticking off more things on the party "to do" list, making the house ready for Katie and George who are coming on Friday, and our son Jack who will be traveling here on Saturday with nephew Nick, Kate his partner and daughter Esme (who now has two teeth!) to help us get everything ready for the event at the venue.  


However, the champagne is on ice and, all being well, Steve and I will be able to spend some time together and have a good meal out before we are swept off our feet! 


Yesterday, a friend asked tentatively about presents. I can honestly say that I had not given it a thought.  I have already had the BEST birthday present I could have wished for - Steve is still here, very much alive and kicking, just over a year after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.  What more could I want?


Tomorrow I'll look back at last year's birthday wish list and think about the year ahead.  If you are curious about what that might involve, you'll have to come back!


Last but not least - I don't get my bus pass (or state pension, for that matter) tomorrow!  Since April 2010, everyone has to wait longer for their bus pass as the pension age for men and women is "equalized."  In my case, it will be November 2010...But it may not happen 'till I'm 65 - if at all - based on the current government's thinking.  The bus pass party will just have to wait :-))