9 October 2019

Celebration

"Happy birthday, Mr. P. Be sure to tell us how you celebrate." - Steve Reed 8/10/19
Well, how does a stout, curmudgeonly Yorkshire geezer celebrate his 66th birthday?

Let me tell you my friends, there was no party. No jelly and ice cream. No Pass the Parcel and no kids crying when they got hooked out of Musical Chairs. No ten shilling notes to be found inside birthday cards and no magicians making sausage dogs from balloons. No, it's not like that at 66.

After a shower, I was dressed by eight thirty. A mug of morning tea. Open birthday cards and a couple of gifts. A new garden gnome and a pair of walking trousers. Wrong waist size I'm afraid.

Clint agreed to take us up to "The Hidden Gem" for breakfast. It is located behind Bents Green Special School and there are always one or two helpers with special needs. I chose eggs florentine. Two perfectly poached eggs on a bed of toasted muffin, spinach, grilled flat mushroom and hollandaise sauce. As delightful as the last time we visited the place.

At midday, I went to Shorts Lane near Dore, donned my boots and walked for an hour. My regular walk just ten minutes from home. I snapped the picture at the top of this post on my way to Totley Bents.

Back home, Shirley and I were soon on a Number 81 bus heading to The Showroom to watch the 2.20 screening of a British independent film called "Bait". Created last year, this quirky black and white film is set in a Cornish fishing village and reveals dramatic tensions between the established community and holidaying incomers. Very enjoyable.

Back home and soon afterwards two "Moonpig" parcels arrived from The Beloved Daughter. Chocolates and a new mug with "For Fox Sake" written upon it with an image of a fox.

Six thirty and we are sitting in Kia's Pastaria on Abbeydale Road. I have vowed to visit this place for ages as it gets such glowing reports in Trip Advisor. The service was excellent and the pasta dishes we chose were indeed very good but somehow that "wow!" factor I had been expecting was missing.

Nine p.m. and I am up at "The Hammer and Pincers" for the Tuesday night quiz. Team member Mike is away in Sicily so it was just me with Mick. We didn't do too well but we knew - for example - that Rocky Balboa's fighting name was "The Italian Stallion". After drinking two pints of Stone's bitter I started to feel rather queasy. All that pasta - it was like it was swelling up in my belly. 

I caught the 88 bus home where Shirley was watching a documentary about junior doctors. I stayed up to watch "Democracy Now" on our local TV station. More outrageous news about Donald Trump's arrogance and his devilish tricks - crudely designed to thwart justice and transparency. Meantime we now have our own mini-Trump employing similar tactics as he attempts to "Get Brexit Done!"...When we get a pet animal "done" we get it neutered!

So that dear blogpeople was my 66th birthday. And today, if John Lennon hadn't been gunned down in 1980, he would have been 79. I wonder what he would have thought of Trump and Johnson.

47 comments:

  1. Many Happy Returns. It sounds like a wonderful energetic day for someone who has reached the age of 66 years old. May you have many more happy walking days in the future.

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    1. "These boots are made for walking...and that's just what they'll do" Thank you Thelma.

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  2. Belated good wishes for the anniversary of the date of your birth. Sounds like a Good Day to me. You'd not have enjoyed it as much if you'd been in the Hebrides: it was torrential rain and blowing a gale. Somehow I'd never thought of you as a Pasta Person. On Monday I had linguine with cream and white wine sauce and smoked Lewis mussels. It was food for the gods in my book but I was thinking how many of my friends like 'good wholesome food'. 'Bait' sounds like a film worth watching. The theme is well understood in many parts of Scotland.

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    1. Thank you Graham. Sadly, "Bait" is not out on general release.

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    2. I have similar once or twice a month. I use smoked haddock or a Smokie if he has one on the van. Soured cream and mustard for the sauce.

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  3. Happy Birthday Mr. Pud....sounds like a very full day !

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    1. Thank you Frances. Yes very FULL! Urrrgh!

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  4. We are of a similar ilk you and I. I also have one of those fox mugs given to me by my eldest son.
    Your day sounds exhausting to me but for a fit lad like yourself I expect it was a breeze. lol, lol.
    2 lol's today.
    Briony
    x

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    1. Only two lol's? You should have given me sixty six! lol!

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  5. Hope your stomach has recovered from the evening's excesses? You should have just had birthday cake instead!

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    1. No birthday cake I am afraid. Sixty six birthday candles would constitute a serious fire hazard.

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  6. Hopefully your queasiness didn't last long, and you had a good night's sleep after such an exciting day.
    Can I please see a photo of your new foxy mug?

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    1. I will add one to this post foxy lady!

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  7. Happy Belated Birthday, YP!

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  8. Sounds like an eventful and lovely day, even if there was no jelly and musical chairs. Being with friends and loved ones is my idea of perfect.

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    1. I am glad I am not working. I never liked to be at work on my birthday. In fact, there should be a law that you can have a day off on your birthday.

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  9. It sounds like a terrific birthday! May there be many more

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  10. Where's the photo of the new garden gnome? Is there a gang of other gnomes he can join in the garden?

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    1. I might take the new gnome back to the shop as he appears to an indoor ceramic gnome.

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  11. Sounds like a Mr. Pudding kind of day...minus the pasta bloat.

    No ten shilling notes at my house either. Only old money I have left are a sixpence, thruppence, an odd shilling or two and maybe a ha'penny. And imagine musical chairs at our age (several years older than you). It's likely some participants would need hip and knee replacements after a round or two. :)

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    1. As you are several years older than me I could easily barge you out of the way when claiming the last seat in Musical Chairs. Please don't cry Mary!

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  12. What a very busy celebratory day! Good for you! Lots of love, some exercise out in the lanes, a lovely breakfast, a...decent...dinner.
    Thank you for remembering dear John Lennon. Perhaps if he hadn't been taken from us, Trump never would have happened, much less your own BJ. Perhaps in a parallel universe, he is happily turning 79 and there is indeed peace and better times for all.

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    1. In that parallel universe John is probably King of the World and we are all living in harmony. Imagine!

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    2. Or at least one of the most valued and cherished elders.
      Sigh.

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  13. Well, that was a very active day for # 66. I think Lennon would have had some wise things to say about today.

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    1. He would have advised white political leaders not to wear black or brown face paint.

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  14. Well you certainly didn't waste the day! Good for you. I LOVE the fox mug. I may have to get one for myself! I will also try to remember that pasta and bitters don't mix.

    Good job on the "Italian Stallion." I wouldn't have known that. I haven't seen "Rocky" in probably 35 years at least.

    And yes, happy birthday to John Lennon, who would no doubt be horrified at the political shenanigans going on in the world these days.

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    1. (Although Ringo is a Leaver, so who knows -- would John be one too?)

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    2. Ringo should keep his substantial nose out of British affairs as he is now a Californian. He always was the dumbest Beatle.

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  15. A full and enjoyable day! It all sounds wonderful. I would also like to see the new garden gnome. Does he have a place of honor or will he join the garden sheep? I finished out my 66th year this past August so if I can do it so can you! Happy Birthday!

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    1. So you are already on Route 67! I see that it does in fact run through Missouri. I am not sure that the new gnome is in fact designed for garden use. I may take it back to the shop.

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  16. Glad you had a good day. I had to laugh that your post included the words "ten shilling note" and "moonpig". From one era to another.

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    1. I bet you got quite a few ten bob notes Christina... You would have been such a good girl.

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  17. What a great way to celebrate a birthday - even if you didn't have jelly and icecream (my favourite). Mind you, I don't think jelly would mix with beer any more than pasta! Cheers, Margaret

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    1. You are probably right Margaret. But come to think of it...I haven't had a bowl of jelly in years!

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  18. Happy Birthday, my darlin' brother from a different mother (and father.) I think when I first met you you were 61 or 62 . Right? What a full and marvelous day you had for your birthday. It is so wonderful that you enjoy your retirement so fully. You and I live for today. I lost my real baby brother (and my father) when they were 66 so you be extra careful this year, you hear?

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    1. Hey sis, I feel sure that I have "known" you longer than that! Thank you for your birthday wishes and following your advice I will take extra care in my 66th year!

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  19. And that, folks, was a food-filled,non-wasted day!

    It's bloody annoying how they make mistakes all the time in waist sizes in trousers, slacks, shorts, skirts and dress! (Not that the latter two apply to you, of course!)

    It sounds like you had a very enjoyable birthday, Yorkie. For fox sake! I love the mug!!!

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    1. You haven't see my wardrobe Lee! Every fortnight I venture out as Lola in my high heels. Remember that song by The Kinks?

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    2. I was thinking more along the lines of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana", Yorkie! :)

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  20. That sounds like a day-long celebration to me, absence of games and ice cream notwithstanding! Pasta always makes me feel simultaneously stuffed and still hungry. I'd hate to put two pints in on top of it.

    Funny mug! I hope you get a good gnome on trade-in.

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    1. I thought there had been a big enough gap in time before downing the pints after the pasta.

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  21. Your birthday sounds nice to me...the breakfast, the walk, the gifts. The fox mug is adorable! You should have had cake, though. It's not a birthday without cake!

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    1. Mrs Pudding has made me birthday cakes in the past but not this time. I must have done something wrong.

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