A good day

I've had a busy morning on the phone, thanking people for their kind thoughts yesterday. Being good Friday means we've been receiving Easter cards along with birthday cards. It's always nice to be thought of by friends.

Yesterday's party was noisy. All the regulars were in Geriatrics' Corner & a few infrequent visitors. Little B was there, back from his Spanish holiday a week early - it was so quiet, even his usual eateries weren't serving, such is the effect of the recession & the exchange rate. Paul & Judith were there when we arrived, though they soon left. Fran & Den came bringing a bottle of wine as a present. They brought along Mrs B, bearing the card she'd made especially for me. Jimmy & Doreen, friends of Fran & Den, had come up from Salford for the weekend so they came in too - they regularly caravan near here & have started to come along to Geriatric's Corner when they're in the area. Al, our gardener, was sat on his stool in the corner by the bar, quietly looking on. Mr P was back after his coast-to-coast charity cycle ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland - it had been a hard pedal up the Pennines to Alston, especially when he had to cycle into the wind & rain that day. Dick Gobble joined us & told us about the new business he's starting up.Gaz, the owner/manager, stopped to give me an embrace & birthday good wishes. PD arrived in good spirits after his latest hospital trip & discovering he's lost a stone in weight. The bar was busier than usual with it being Good Friday, but all joined in the celebration. It was good.

Then we came home & the Fox cooked a salmon & rice casserole. Delicious it was too, accompanied by an excellent Moldovan Pinot Grigio. Later in the evening we opened a bottle of pink champagne to the exuberant sound of Django Reinhardt, followed by a bit of Piaf - I do love "Celine".

All in all it was a good day. And what better way is there to spend a birthday than to be surrounded by the people you love & who love you.