Our 70th Year….

It all started with Lizzie, earlier on in the year. She kicked off our 70th birthday celebrations among us College Crew. Next, it will be me. But today, it was the turn of dear Sue D. Only she didn’t actually know it.

Sue thought she had done with her celebrations. Her birthday was on Tuesday and she had had cards and gifts galore on her birthday. We called in and toasted her health. Others called in, too. She had had her family party, taking them down into depths of Sussex (or was it Kent?) for a few days away. So for her, her celebrations were over.

Until today that is, when several of her friends, including the College Crew, all piled into the Dog Inn in Whittington for a surprise party. ‘We’ve just parked at the pub’ texted Janet. ‘We’re nearly there’ I texted back. ‘Just come through Bassets Pole, see you in the pub’ was the message from Helen, Sue’s daughter, followed by: Can someone have the camera ready? We’ve just arrived.

Sue walked in to a crowd of people all applauding her arrival. Bless her. As you can imagine, it was overwhelming. She had thought she was coming for a nice quiet meal en famille. Not with a raucous crowd like us lot. But boy, did it work out well. It seemed to me that everyone had a really lovely time. And we all left with very full bellies and very large smiles on our faces.

Afterwards we hugged each other and waved our goodbyes. “See you a week on Tuesday!” was the chorus as we set off.

Once we were home, we welcomed in Sue and Chris and Janet and Trevor who were staying overnight before their long journeys home.

We had a lovely relaxing evening together, full of good-natured natter; cheese and biscuits, cake and some rather nice wine. What a wonderful end to a very lovely day. Celebrating being 70? You betcha!

Take care everyone. God bless.