Birthday Girl

My godmother turned 88 today. We are related through my paternal grandfather who was her grandfather. But she has always been known as Aunty Babs.

In recent years she has suffered like many from macular degeneration and for some time now she has been completely blind. Not even light or shade.

I usually see her at weekends to sort out mail/ shopping etc but called up tonight with gifts from the family - a lot of scented flowers and her favourite - sweet pea. Her memory is remarkably sharp with a great recollection of phone numbers and addresses and she still lives at home with help from carers and friends. The same house she has lived in since 1938.

She'd had a call from a great friend in Canada who is going to call in in October. So an enjoyable day of visits but she went into reflective mode when (with her permission) I captured this shot.