Sod 60!!

Yesterday was my 60th birthday.  

60! I still can't quite believe it.  

When I was younger 60 was old.  

I'm told now that 60 is the new 40.  

I certainly don't feel 60 and I don't think I look 60, others may disagree!!

To help me get over the fact that I have reached the next decade, my family spoiled me rotten.  On Saturday evening Peter and the girls took me out for cocktails and dinner which was great and yesterday I got to spend the day with my wonderful grandchildren and their parents.  We had a 50's style lunch party complete with sausages on sticks, cheese and pineapple (whats not to love) and even a game of pass the parcel!!  I love to see the children's faces when they hope they won't have to let that parcel go, of course there was a gift for everyone. 

Talking of gifts this was one of mine, hence the title of the post

I also have 3 trips to look forward to -  first being a day out in London at the Knitting & Stitching show with Rachel on 5 March.  Then Chelsea Flower Show with Rebecca in May. Followed by 10 days in New York with Peter in June. See what I mean spoiled.

I had so many flowers, my sitting room looks like a florist shop, all beautiful, different.

from Rufus and Laurie

 Daffodils from Jessica

From Rebecca and Tim

From Andy & Mel

from Judy & Stephen

 Then finally....... this beautiful birthday cake made by Stu's aunt Beckie, such a talented lady.  I have tried to take photos from every angle so you can see everything on it.  Laurie was fascinated by the scissors, everything is edible..... so much sugar

The cake is a rich fruit with marzipan and the balls of yarn are chocolate truffles!!  It was a real shame to cut it.  The perfect end to a perfect day

Party Time

Yesterday was Rufus' 3rd birthday party.  He isn't actually 3 until Tuesday, but it made more sense to have his party at the weekend.

The plan had been to have a picnic at the Gardens of Surprises at Burghley, but as usual the weather forecast wasn't playing ball.  Rebecca was lucky to be able to get the Girl Guide's Hall at short notice and only being 2 streets away, worked out fine.  Typically, the weather stayed fine but was very windy and with so many small babies in the mix would have been difficult plus the older children would have been very cold in the water. We still went with the picnic theme but indoors

Friday Rebecca had to go into work for the morning , so I had Laurie whilst Rufus was with his Nana.  To say Laurie wasn't too happy might be an understatement.

Mummy's boy!

Friday afternoon Rebecca's kitchen became cake central

A Paddington cake was requested so Rebecca decided on a suitcase.  I think you will agree a triumph. He also gets to keep the bear

We were pleased that almost all of this went

Hurrying to the 'fire'

Cutting the cake

The banana pops were a great hit

Especially with Laurie!!!

The party is over and I get most of the balloons

Post party snuggles with Aunty Rachel

Whilst he's snuggling................

Loving the orange hat

eating again

Cake anyone?

So there you have it a 3rd birthday party done and dusted. We get to do it all again in 6 weeks for Laurie's 1st birthday/naming.  This time it will be at our home, same people but with more family added to the mix.  Please pray for sun - remember Rufus' 1st party and photos here

I would just like to add that Rebecca and Tim have a lovely group of friends, so friendly and chatty, its a pleasure to be in their company.  See you all soon

Another weekend roundup

They come and they go, another is nearly done.  Where does the time go?  Its been another busy weekend so far.

Friday, I motored up to Stamford to pick up Rufus and bring him back to ours for an overnight visit.  We had fun as usual.  Auntie Rachel was off work on Friday making a wedding cake for her cousin, she decided to do the finishing off at our house as we have more room in the kitchen and she wouldn't get pestered by her cats.  This is the finished result, I am sure you will agree it looks marvelous.  Emma and Nev wanted an all chocolate cake, this is the recipe she has used before - here.  The flowers were made by Stu's mum.

We walked the cake round to my sister in laws, leaving them to drive it to the venue!!  It did get there in one piece, thank goodness, though Emma ended up holding it on her lap all the way.  We then visited great Grandma and Pat, went to the park, played Duplo, waited, and waited and waited for Pops to get home, why are they always late when you want them home early?

Getting that last bit of ice cream out of the bowl.  See he is wearing his new jumper

Then on Saturday they hunted for the missing screws and nuts to fix the bike seat onto the bike.

Sorted

Then there was a bit of measuring

We then cycled to St Ives with Auntie Rachel and Stu to feed the ducks - actually ended up being more swans than ducks.  Its so lovely along the quay in St Ives, plus it was another beautiful weekend weather wise.  He insisted on keeping his wellington boots on and who are we to argue!

A ride on Thomas

Spot of lunch at the Cromwell

Its a shandy and he didn't drink any

Waiting for his sandwich - scratch on his face was from a fall after the measuring session!  Boys, I'm sure his parents think we knock him about.

Then it was just so exhausting he had to have a sleep - he sleeps in a double bed at ours now so we have make him a 'nest' to stop him rolling out.  This was taken whilst trying to wake him up, so that we could have a quick play before taking him home!

Saturday evening - wedding party.  Not a brilliant photo of the new Mr & Mrs Ward - I took this on my phone. Emma looked stunning and we had a good time, great to catch up with family and friends.

So here we are at Sunday.  Not such a nice day today, spent the morning fiddling around.  Peter and I have prepared a large bag of Sweet Red Peppers so that I can make some Red Pepper Jam, more on that later.  Possibly heading into Cambridge later for a food festival that's on in town and to meet up with Stu and his friends who are doing the Oxford to Cambridge Cycle ride today.  So catch you later, hope you are having a good one