What a whirlwind of a few days!! Started with supper round at Helen 'Fruitcake' Vickery's pad in Acton, in a slightly early celebration of Helen Tebay's birthday. Mostly as she was actually going to be back at school already on her actual birthday – when did Autumn term time start to begin in August???
Always fab to catch up with the Helens although I was slightly foxed on arrival to be greeted by a long blonde pigtail haired girl – surely Merle & Mei hadn't changed THAT much – but no, it was a German exchange student whose English was excellent! Maddie disgraced herself by crapping multiple piles across their kitchen floor but otherwise a v good eve all round.
Followed on Fri eve by Liz Tinlin's 50th birthday bash at Twickenham Rowing Club. My first time on Eel Pie Island, quite a quirky place leading to a very nice venue overlooking the river, obvs. Liz looking resplendent in her blue dress and a great chance to see some of the AV gang that I don't so often meet – Mercedes and Kerri Bleeker among them. Also lovely to meet Liz's Mum who I've heard so much about but not yet seen in person – what a sweetie.
A quick turnaround for Saturday's entertainment – us hosting Jules and Pam chez Dora to celebrate Jules' 50th birthday – it was a popular weekend for coming of age! Nicky by this point was off walking the 500 miles of the Camino in north Spain – as you do – making the most of her break between jobs, so Pam was Jules' date for the eve. Garlic snails and oysters to mark the special day followed by a magnificent Hawksey pork via Kamado Joe the beast of a bbq..
And a fine eve it was too, ending up on the patio with the firepit for birthday cake…
Finally topping off the weekend – and some spectacular overeating on our part – with Mark & Charlie coming for Sunday lunch. 2 monster tomahawk steaks and all the trimmings and we were finally sated.
Time for some sofa cuddles for Maddie with the boys while their dog Lottie took a breather from being chased by a leggy, nippy puppy. Maddie is now 10 kilos but hasn't yet grown into her huge paws and Bambi legs – god knows what size she is going to end up!
Monday was then a 'day off' as we recovered and got ready for this week. On Tues morning I made it back to my second walking hockey session post breaking my ribs, and it feels good to be trotting about slowly again.
H has the 3rd of his 3 monthly blood tests and progress updates with his consultant this evening so hoping v much that goes well and doesn't bring us down to earth with a bump. We'll know in a few hours from now x