Arrangements for the weekend were complicated. We were all due to go down to a village called Cold Ash, near Newbury, to help celebrate the 18th birthday of Andrew, the son of our friends. Before all that however, Friday evening Tricia and Ellie were up in Market Harborough, seeing a youth production of High School Musical (which Ellie thinks is the most fab thing ever). Our Godson Matt was in the production, and Ellie thought it was all fantastic, particularly as Matt got her a t-shirt signed by the cast. Andrew’s sister Claire was also seeing the production, and she travelled back with Tricia and Ellie, and stayed over Friday evening. Nikki also came back Friday evening. Saturday morning was a buzz before Tricia, Ellie and Claire went off to Cold Ash. Nikki then drove me and Robbie down later.

Whilst driving down I took a call from my brother Stephen, who told me that my Dad had been taken ill, with what looked like a recurrence of the infection he had a few weeks back. This of course got me worrying about my Dad.

The evening celebration went well, as you can see from the photo’s. It was a formal do. Ellie needs no encouragement to put on a frock, Nikki needs a little encouragement, and Robbie hasn’t worn a suit in years so this was a rarity. Naturally, as a father I am proud of them all.

Ellie loved the dancing. There was also a set of ‘sumo suits’ so that people can have a go at sumo wrestling. I know that this sounds somewhat odd, but went down well the late teens. Rob and Matt had a great time bashing into each other.

The party finished about midnight. Tricia, Ellie and myself went off to a hotel room for the night, Nikki and Robbie slept over at the party location.

The second part of the party weekend was Sunday afternoon, and aimed more at family friends and relatives. However, before going there, I went across to see my Dad. He had a rough night, and was looking exhausted. When I left to go back to Newbury, I have to say I was very concerned about him. We will have to wait and see what prognosis we get from the doctors.

I joined the afternoon party and was able to meet up with some old school friends I had not seen for years, and was pleased to catch up. It was a very pleasant afternoon, and we all came back tired late afternoon.

On the Saturday afternoon,  I had also received a call from a police officer, saying that some of my possessions, stolen in a car break in may have been recovered. Which will hopefully be the case.

Whilst the party celebrations were good, my fathers illness gives cause for a concern. My prayers and thoughts go to him.