20 years ago today

[Hélène I've marked the location of the original photo on the map so you can see where we lived]
Was a bit glum first thing - I was due to go to Hilary's in Northumberland to spend the girls' birthday with them, but Bex decided that would be too many people with too much energy (she has this idea that Naomi and I are manic, though I don't see myself that way at all...) - and she's struggling more than usual with her anxiety due to upcoming uni exams... so said she'd much prefer me to go see her for the day like I did before, but after her exams are over at the end of May. TBH it's good that she's speaking up about what she needs etc but I was still disappointed and feeling left out of course...
But in the end I had a really good day - early walk so felt very virtuous, Hilary sent me this photo with the line "we've not done TOO badly!", had good chats with both girls, who clearly genuinely loved the gifts I got them (wow, Dad Manages to Buy Good Gifts for Daughters, that's a news headline!!), made two phonecalls, got two sales - 42 bottles in total, and good stories behind each, especially the first one - a chap from Shropshire with mutual contacts in Oman, believe it or not - the Head of the school his wife worked in went to Vesey (my school) and I met and got on very well with the Head of Geography at an exam board meeting once...
Then chats with Sis, Mike, Francis, Chris, Ady... and the clouds disappeared about 4pm so enjoyed an hour on the balcony before tea (rest of the Brazilian curry), wine order arrived, so I had a glass to celebrate... then online golf with Ady stuck in a hotel in Blackpool, then my usual Netflix before bed...