Ursula's Birthday today!

Here she is! The birthday lady. She received lots of lovely cards, presents,
a bouquet of flowers, and then a nice lunch at the Spotted Cow. Patsy joined us for lunch and then we went to her house for coffee. Sadly I dozed off! The level crossing did its worst and shut every time we looked at it!

Mandriva 2009

I downloaded this distro last night. It seems very good. Lots of new features. One is getting pics from a web cam easily anywhere that you want them.

Here are we on the couch with new covers. Alas Ursula's coffee cup handle broke and she and the new cover were drenched. It was very painful for her. She had to change everything and was scalded as well. The cover we took off and washed, hopefully it won't have a stain mark.

Prim came this morning to help me with my wine attempt. I don't hold out much hope that it will work but we will see.

Helena is with Christina in Peterborough, all the rest are at home. Jen goes to China tomorrow with her school party.

18th October 2008

On Friday I had my 85^th birthday. We went out for lunch and that was about all that we did! However the next day my family gave me the sweetest day of my life. They all travelled down from far and wide and together we had a family celebration that surely I will never forget.

We had a fairly simple lunch, though it must have taken an enormous amount of effort to put it together. Richard and Jackie coming from Norfolk were understandingly late so lunch was really in two parts. However the cake cutting ceremony was shared by all, and with a bottle of champagne we toasted one another. Richard used his new video camera and had a record of my speechlessness and obvious joy at the events as they unfolded.

At long last, though I had suspected it, I realise the love and affection that my wife and children have bestowed on me over all these years. I am humbled and hold my head in shame at the memory of all my past misdeeds and errors!

We were blessed with Johnny being with us, he is not always able to join in. Mind you, he spent a lot of time examining the new mini Asus Eee PC, and didn't venture to the beach with us. We skyped Amy and Susie, they could not attend either because of various impedimenta, one was Hollie having a nasty cold.

Helena had prepared a book of life for me, a wonderful collection of many of the good things that I could be proud of, some were quite new for me to read. It must have taken hours and hours of research on her part. What a wonderful gift she gave me

I had presents and cards, and after they had gone home and all was over I felt quite old and feeble, and reflected on how lucky I have been through all my life and what a wonderful thing is a family.