A Long Birthday

My Best Before Date birthday celebrations seem have gone on for a long time.

 

To be fair I started planning things back in February when I booked the week in TyCefn Tregib and afternoon tea at the Plough Rhosmaen, where I worked as a sweet waitress and barmaid when I was a student.

When I turned sixty Bigsister announced that I had to organise something for my birthday or she would.    

So I organised afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel in Whitley Bay for myself and Cousin Daisy, whose birthday is the day after mine albeit 22 years before.  

 

This time I decided that it would be easier for the siblings to get to Rhosmaen than Newcastle.  Bigbrother lives a couple of hours drive away and The Sisters are glad of any excuse to go ‘home’.  It also meant that Henffrind (we started infant school on the same day) and her daughter could come over from Newport.

When she heard I would be away on the day Pearl (a morris and folkie friend of very long standing) insisted on organising an afternoon tea in Northumberland on 19^th September.  It was at the Bywell Coffee Barn and was very nice.

Then there was a wonderful afternoon tea at the Plough Rhosemaen with the family and friends on the day itself (23^rd September).

LDNorthEast got in on the act.  There was a charity fundraiser on 1^st October where they presented me with a bunch of flowers and a lovely poem.

The next weekend I was off with the Coven in Warwick; there was cake and gin.

The day after I got back the WI committee presented me with a bunch of flowers and a wonderfully moist chocolate cake.

When I went to knit’n’natter on the following Friday there was a birthday banner made out of knitted squares, and a cake and other goodies.

Finally, yesterday I was treated to an afternoon tea by my lovely Woodlawn Coven; Mrs Bun, Mrs Lasagne, Mrs Bursar and Mrs Treasurer.

I have been utterly spoilt with countless cards (well I haven’t counted them) at least two bottles of gin and the same of Baileys, three bunches of flowers, gift-cards, a beanbag penguin, mug, toiletries and of course chocolates.

I am thankful for family and friends and all they’ve given me, and all the fun and laughter this six week celebration has brought. 

Of it all I think the best bit was being able to spend more time with Henffrind (aka OBF) than we have managed for many many years.

Sitting, drinking tea and talking until the golden moon rose over the farmland we roamed and played in when we were just little girls and had no idea what lives would lie before us.

 

 

 

Discussing Packing

Because Fester’s profession involved fieldwork during the summer (when invertebrates are most active) we took, and take, most of our family holidays in spring and autumn; so we are in the habit of going away in October half term.

From the Facebook Archives

24 October 2024 at 18.52

Discussing packing...

Me "I hate packing."

Him "Oh I don't mind it. I've done mine."

"What?  Shoved a pair of underpants in a plastic bag?"

"No" slightly hurt "I just look through the stuff on the chair.  Mind you a plastic bag would be useful as a mucky bag."

Then 

"I seem to be getting low on underpants ... don't know what you've been doing with them."

"Washed them.  Although I'll admit I've put a couple of raggy arsed ones in the rag bag."

"Yes, some are beginning to disintegrate ... it's a long time since they were new."

Then a classic

"I've put in a pair of white trousers in case of expediency."

Bess Cavalier  We had a similar conversation about t-shirts yesterday.

Bentonbag  Fester has always refused to wear t-shirts or jeans. However getting him to let go of "well ventilated" short sleeved shirts is a challenge.