...it's a celebration.....

Dad's birthday today.......84!

Restless night...eventually gave up at 6.30 and got up. Dad roused about 9.00.

It started snowing at 9.30....and it's forecast for the entire North of the country...so it looks like I'm stuck here for the day.

Set off at 12.15 for Dad's birthday lunch...picked up Uncle Dennis on the way....got to the pub around 12.30.....sister arrived....and then the Boss and her Dad...we had the whole pub to ourselves....just the six of us.

Steak and ale pie for the Boss, her Dad, my Dad and Uncle Dennis.....Chicken and bacon ciabatta for the sis.....and a burger with red onion jam for me....absolutely delicious.

As we ate talk turned to ages......the Boss' Dad is 88, Uncle Dennis is 87, Dad is 84, I'm 55 on Saturday, the Boss is the same age as me and the sis is two years younger.....that adds up to 422 years sitting round the table! The rest of the conversation mainly consisted of the old guys repeating things. The Boss' Dad asked my Dad how he was doing....5 times......my Dad asked what day it was ...4 times...and Uncle Dennis told us about his arthritis ....3 times. The Boss' Dad also called my Dad, Dennis and me "Good lad" several times.

Old people don't eat much .....right? I believe I mentioned this at Christmas. After the mains were finished the young lady working asked if anyone would like dessert....the Boss and I declined....but Dad went for Apple and Berry crumble with custard....Uncle Dennis decided on the same....the Boss' Dad went for Chocolate Fudge cake with ice cream....and the sis decided on Chocolate Fudge Cake with pouring cream!

When we left at 2.50...me £80 lighter.....we were still the only ones in the pub....and they closed and locked the doors behind us.

The snow had turned to a full on blizzard....with the snow going horizontal and the roads were a bit iffy.

When we got back to Dad's his next door neighbour called in and made me sit at the computer updating the Family Tree with all the details my Dad couldn't remember...like my birthday....the Boss' name...where we were married...where the Boss was born...where my two offspring were born etc etc etc.

He went off home....Dad fell asleep....and I looked at the snow and was glad I'd made the decision to stay instead of risking it...he eventually woke up around 7.00 p.m.

Dinner was Quiche and tomato and basil pasta...followed by egg custard. Couldn't watch the United game (Dad hasn't got Sky) so had to listen on the radio...while he watched the History channel....strangely enough it was about the Valkyrie plot to assassinate Hitler! He still didn't get it!

The snow stopped about 9.00, a couple of inches deep....and then the famous lazy North East wind started....bitterly cold and too lazy to blow round you so it cuts straight through.

Just before midnight it began to rain...so the snow should be all gone tomorrow...and I can set off for home after breakfast.

Das vidanya moy padruga.