A Family Celebration

Although it isn't Dad's 90th birthday until tomorrow, he had asked to have a roast lunch at his favourite local carvery today so that everyone in our immediate family could be there to celebrate with him. Their regular waitress, Diane, gave him a big birthday cake with "9" and "0" candles on it, a card signed by all the restaurant staff and two of the special birthday balloons in my blipfoto.

It was wonderful to see our whole family together at the restaurant, then back at Mum and Dad's afterwards for tea and cake. Dad opened his presents and cards, and we all had a good chinwag and a laugh. He and Mum loved being surrounded by their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren - it very clearly gave them a much-needed lift from all the worry about Dad's health. Everyone has left now, and Mum and Dad are sitting beside me trying to stay awake long enough to see the Strictly Come Dancing results show to the end, tired but happy with how the day went. Even the sun shone, so we couldn't have asked for more to make the day special.

Tomorrow, if Dad's feeling up to it, we'll go out for lunch at his favourite hotel where the staff always make a big fuss of him and Mum.

PS: The photograph in my picture is of Mum and Dad not long after they started seeing each other, sitting looking out to sea at Hadleigh Castle in Essex. They are in their early 20's and I think they look like film stars.