High Jinks

It is John’s birthday today, but we celebrated en famille yesterday with a roast dinner. All the boys were there – including Andrew who made the special journey cross-country to wish his Dad a happy birthday. Wives and children were there, too, of course, with the exception of Catherine, who was up in Manchester/Bolton; and Lily, who was at work. So all in all, a jolly good turn out!!

There were 12 of us including the baby, whose high chair seems to take up an inordinate amount of room, and we just about managed to squeeze round the new table – although Paul was hanging off the end…..

We all agreed that twelve at the table was a bit of a push and we might have to resort to bringing the old table up from the Man Shed next time and get it set up in the lounge instead.

Freddie, bless him, wanted to be at the Head of the Table and wasn’t at all happy when Mummy and Daddy suggested that these seats were reserved for the birthday boy at one end, and me at the other. Tough life lessons, aren’t they, when you discover that someone else is a bit more important on a particular day, at a particular event? I think I was about ten when I learned that one……

Anyway, we all ate well and enjoyed the food – including the birthday cake which was ushered in by my little helpers….. and well done, Grandpa! You blew out how many candles?

With it being a party, the children were looking forward to some excitement. And, in fact, we have been waiting for the darker days/nights to draw in for one specific purpose. And there were high hopes that yesterday might be the day. But nope, nothing doing yesterday. However, there’s a promise that next Sunday we might, just might get to play……sardines!!!! Hehehe. Can’t wait for the high jinks!!! Fingers crossed.

We have had a lovely day today, too. I took John a bacon butty and cup of coffee in bed for a birthday treat before he went off to his Pulmonary Rehabilitation Class. Then this afternoon, we had the very great pleasure of spending the voucher that Rachel, one of our friends from church had given us. Afternoon Tea for Two!

It was absolutely smashing. Rachel had said to us that we needed to get out more. And she is right, of course, so this treat was spot-on. It wasn’t too busy; we were well away from the hoards, and had an attentive waitress looking after us. Really, really delightful and we so enjoyed ourselves.

Our afternoon tea was at Oakes’, the local farm shop café, which many of you have frequented. What was lovely too, was that the scenery was stunning. Gorgeous countryside; sheep slowly grazing in the fields alongside us; crows flitting across those same fields, landing and taking off again with such purpose; and the skyscape was just out of this world, with a mist lifting and the clouds parting to allow a band of gold to bathe the horizon. Glorious.

Of course, with an afternoon tea, there is always the scone question, isn’t there? And we love to play the game with the Cornish contingent in the family….. so I did fifty/fifty and put the clotted cream on first on one half of the scone and jam on first on the other, chuckling to myself about all the debates we’ve had over the years. What’s your choice, folks? Cream or jam first?

Take care everyone. God bless.