Birthday Eve

Today was birthday eve for my dad's 90th, and we had a lovely day.

We visited a very up and coming smokehouse in St Monans - EAST PIER. Can't recommend them highly enough - but you need to visit or go online for vac packed smoked goods. Smoked mixed nuts and their smoked salmon pate are my favourites so far.

2 of my cousins who came yesterday, stayed over in Elie and came for a casual lunch. Great to chat and spend such a good time with them today. We had fun reminiscing and talking about yesterday.

Susan arrived at the same time as our friends arrived for birthday champers. She had come all the way from Aberdeen and was so tired but still put on a good show and chatted away. What a trooper!

It has been such a good idea to have so many small celebrations - dad can hear some of what is being said and can make good contributions to the events as there are fewer people than at a big party.

He will not have his "proper" gift from me tomorrow - mine is a book of all of the various events leading up to and on his big birthday. It is almost complete and I have had such fun putting it together. Tomorrow will be the last of the pages to be collected. Then I probably need to edit it a bit!

It's lovely to have Susan here with me now and to share the dog walks....and now talks! What a treat having someone to take a lead. Tomorrow we can get to the coastal path ...at last!! I would not have dared go there on my own. I would have been pulled off my feet if another interesting dog came along or someone had left any food on the ground. The dogs are so strong.

I only have 4 more days with these dogs - I will miss them so very much...