GUESS WHO HAS A BIRTHDAY TODAY?

Today has been a whirl of opening birthday cards and gifts, receiving and responding to Whatsapp Messages and answering calls - but I have loved every minute.  

When I was a little girl, my birthday just merged with Christmas and I can never ever remember having a birthday party, so I am making the most of being spoiled now I am a little older!

I was sitting up in bed at 12.30 this morning opening birthday cards, and then was woken by a call from our son in Vietnam, just after 7.30 our time, to wish me a Happy Birthday.  Then there were more calls and messages, in between trying to eat my breakfast.  Our other son rang about 10 o’clock, which was much more sensible, so after a good chat, I needed to sort myself out because we were being picked up and chauffeured to Blunsdon House Hotel for a birthday lunch, a treat from our son in Vietnam.  Like most homes at this time of year, the floor was littered with envelopes, wrapping paper and birthday bags when our friend, Louise arrived to take us to BHH.  

Before that, however, I had a special call to make - when I first met Barbara, a new friend, in Betty’s Northallerton, we discovered that both our birthdays were on Boxing Day - and you can read about it HERE.  We arranged that when I was 80 in 2025 and she was 100 years old, we would meet up at Betty's.  However, sadly, Barbara died at the end of November,  just a few weeks short of her 99th birthday, so I wanted to ring and speak to her daughter, which I did.  We had a lovely chat and in the top shot you can see a copy of the Order of Service In Loving Memory and Celebration for the Life of Barbara.  We may not meet at Betty’s next year,  but wherever I am, I will be sure to think about Barbara, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday in heaven and will definitely be ringing her daughter, Chris.

As well as lots of lovely gifts, I have been blessed to receive two new members to be added to the Silly Saturday Gang.  A lovely penguin named Zappi - given to me by Zach and his Mummy and Daddy - and I’m sure he will be a great member of the Gang.  I will have to watch Zach though, as when he comes over to see me, he often likes to take home one of the Gang and they live under his bed until he returns them!

We had a wonderful time at Blunsdon House Hotel and again, I was thoroughly spoiled by Louise and was given yet another wonderful addition to the Silly Saturday Gang named Gobbledygook - no prizes for guessing what he is!  On the label it says “Don’t let his name fool you, this quick talking turkey makes a lot of sense...his friends just love talking TURKEY with him!”  So it sounds as if I will be busying learning how to talk TURKEY!  I’m sure he and Zappi will both fit in very well - so watch this space.

There is also a story behind one of the Birthday Cards - the one next to Zappi.  This shows two penguins at Costalot Coffee - and was given to me in 2016 by the friends we went to lunch with yesterday - and I thought our next door neighbour, Mike, would like it, so passed it over to him in January 2017.  It has gone back and forth across the carport since 2017 and it is so full inside with all the writing that Lynn has now had to go onto the back of the card!  I'm glad that Mike's birthday is in early January, so it's Lynn and Mike who have to remember where the card is when next December comes!!

Louise had also provided a lovely chocolate cake, complete with candles.  We were quite full after our meal, so waited until we got home before we both had a piece - drat - I should have remembered and made sure that Louise took a piece home with her!  

Hope you have all had a great Christmas and Boxing Day - mine has been wonderful and I am so grateful to all my friends and family for making it so.  Here’s to the next one in 2025 - better get my thinking cap on as to what I will do to celebrate my Four Score years - I know it’s almost a year away, but these things take time to plan! 

With love to you all, and thank you for your continuing friendship - this is a great place to meet and interact with friends.  M xx