Anticipating birthdays

Two of our grandchildren - one from each family - have birthdays at the end of this month - a day apart. As that’s the beginning of Advent, we’ve rarely been able to visit at the right time, so this year I decided to celebrate a little early…

This meant taking our youngest, Anna, on a shopping spree after school. She’s a joy to shop for, and had a wish list all ready. In the photo she’s browsing in Paperchase, the top of her list of shops. There I spent enough money to earn us a free tote bag, with ensuing delight all round. Then to another, unfamiliar shop to try on garments (and buy one) and another two scented emporia - and that was us. She was simply happy. Before leaving the St James Centre Himself made an impulse buy and bought a new - and much needed - vacuum cleaner. It was half price, in one of the manifestations of the Black Friday thing.

We had a hilarious dinner with her cousins, and then we took her home to Newhaven.Another lovely day that’s just finished me off, so I’m going to save my Remembrance Day thought till tomorrow.

Night!