It was a lovely day. Frances, Stew and Phoebe came round early. My daughter has always had a penchant for arranging appropriate birthday gifts and celebrations.
There was a beautiful chocolate orange flavoured cake with green and white butter cream icing - homemade locally. Then there were two pairs of braces (American: suspenders) - I am wearing one pair in the photograph. There were chocolates, "Maltesers", bottles of local beers from Bakewell and the pièce de résistance - a generous £400 hotel voucher that our Ian had also contributed to. Wow!
Shirley had bought me a new pair of walking boots on Friday.
We set off for Froggat in The Peak District at one o'clock. I had booked us in for Sunday lunch at "The Chequers Inn" at one thirty. It was a marvellous roast dinner. As I was about to pay for it, the pub-restaurant landlord asked if everything had been all right and I was happy to provide a glowing and unqualified commendation. We all agreed that every element had been quite delicious.
We went home to eat birthday cake and I had previously bought a bottle of Laurent-Perrier champagne to wash it down. After a teatime nap, I spoke to our Ian on the telephone for half an hour before visiting "The Hammer and Pincers" for the Sunday quiz. My friend Mike brought me a thoughtful gift - drawing pens and a pad of good quality art paper. My friend Mick had made me a special Hull City themed birthday card on his computer. Unfortunately, we did not win the quiz, massively overestimating the length of "The Titanic" in the tie-break.
This morning another nice gift arrived on our doormat - a book from Meike in Germany which brings together essays from "The Sunday Times" magazine - specifically from the section called "A Day in the Life Of...". I used to pick up that newspaper every Sunday and always made a point of reading that section. Thank you Meike!
I have very rarely shared pictures of myself on this humble Yorkshire blog but on such a milestone day and with lovely Phoebe on my knee I decided to make an exception. We were about to read "The Three Little Pigs" as we waited for our roast dinners to arrive. Perhaps we should have ordered roast pork and not beef!
What a beautiful photo, full of beaming faces and lots of love! You were certainly spoiled on your birthday, as you should have been.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, and again, Happy Birthday. It sounds like a wonderful time you all shared.
ReplyDeleteA perfect birthday surrounded by loved ones and good mates.
ReplyDeleteIt is SO good to see your face, Mr. P.! And Phoebe sitting on your knee is the buttercream frosting on the cake. I know she adores you. Sounds like a perfect birthday with celebrations and presents that acknowledge exactly who you are and what you love. Terrific!
ReplyDeleteThat's a photo to be displayed for a long time!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had such a nice time, you're looking pretty good for an old fella :)
Great celebration for your birthday.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelous photo of a proud grandpa and a beautiful little girl. Does my heart good. Belated birthday wishes, YP.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful picture to mark a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteGreen and white icing on a chocolate orange cake? Do the colours have a special meaning? I would have expected a chocolate and orange themed decor.
Did the champagne taste nice? You know O.K. and I have a soft spot for the bubbly stuff, but we usually have modest brands.
It sounds like the perfect birthday. Nice to see you in the flesh YP.
ReplyDeleteA lovely way to celebrate a birthday.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful photo of you two and I'm glad the birthday and the dinner went well. I love Maltesers and often eat far too many.
ReplyDeleteSound a good day. You appear to have only three fingers.
ReplyDeleteIt is the second glowing birthday report I have read in this mornings blog roundup. Seems like a good day to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteAgain, many happy returns of the day. You have very generous and thoughtful family.
ReplyDeleteThe photograph of yourself and Phoebe is so joyous!
Each blessed to have the other. Xx
Belated happy birthday! (And what a lovely photo to illustrate it!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely birthday. You look so happy and Phoebe so pretty and charming.
ReplyDeleteA lovely happy photo to celebrate a milestone. Happy Birthday, and many more to come.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a lot of wonderful celebrating! Good for you! I like the photo of you and Phoebe. Pretty soon we expect to see a photo of you and THREE grandchildren! :) How excited you must all be.
ReplyDeleteYou look great, a fun day well earned by the years of helping others have a great day.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to see your face and Phoebe's too. She's grown so much!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a wonderful birthday.
I'm glad you had a great birthday! So nice to have the whole family involved, even if the Titanic didn't cooperate.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful photo. Pure joy and happiness! Happy Birthday!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great day of family love!
ReplyDeleteA great day and birthday had by all.
ReplyDeleteBelated birthday wishes, YP! That is a wonderful photo! (And no, I think ordering roast pork and reading The Three Little Pigs may be a dubious combination, at least until Phoebe gets older, lol)
ReplyDeleteYou look very happy, befitting a birthday boy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo! And Phoebe's smile matches yours. it's nice to see that the old (sic) curmudgeon has a twinkle in his eye. It sounds like a wonderful birthday, Neil.
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