My blogs are like the proverbial London buses… none for ages, then 2 in two days. A pleasant evening at home last night. Tricia cooked steak and chips for my birthday tea, and with Nikki home, it was a full house, and I was a happy man. It seems my Friday night cake wasn’t the only one, as another one was produced, Saturday evening. Here is Ellie bringing out the cake, and a picture of me showing how technically proficient I have become at blowing out candles. Having had so many birthdays now, I am well practiced.

Today was the day of Carlos’s surprise 50th lunch. Carlos hadn’t wanted any fuss for his 50th (see previous blog), but Deb, Simon and Matt thought otherwise. So they organised a surprise lunch in Market Harborough. We were actually organised and out of the house on time, and arrived in Harborough on time… unusual for us. The drive to Mkt H takes us through Northampton, which has a different meaning to us, now that Rob may be going to Uni there.

Carlos enjoyed his surprise, and it was good to catch up with friends. Tricia had made the birthday cake. For his birthday, Deb had got Carlos a juke box. So, the cake had an iced 45 on top. Deb had suggested that Carlos might be interested in some old 45’s for his juke box, so we got hime some. I knew that in the loft at home I had some old 45’s that had belonged to Carlos once – he was getting rid of them so I took them off his hands. This was way back in the 70’s. He had written his name all over them, so there was no mistaking who had them originally. So, they were returned to their original owner, as part of the package of 45’s. As it turned out, Carlos said that one of the 45’s was the first one he had bought. Here are some pictures…. one of the cake, one of Nikki sitting on my leg, and then Carlos.

Nikki has gone back to Uni now, Ellie has just gone to bed, Robbie is in his room on the computer, and Lark Rise to Candleford is about to start, so I am off.