My baby is 30....

Can't quite believe my baby, my firstborn is 30!!  30 years ago I thought I had 4 more weeks to go before he would be born.  How wrong I was. it was snowing, really heavily, and we only just got to Nether Edge Hospital. When he finally decided to come out, nearly 20 hours after I'd gone into labour, he was heavily affected by the pethidine the midwife had given me less an hour before he was born, was blue, not breathing and only just 5 pounds.  And look at him now :-)


As a birthday treat, we went to London for the day last Saturday. First class travel of course - dead cheap on a Saturday, and coffee and bacon butties on the train.

When we got there we made straight for Baker Street - which has a
very atmospheric tube station. 
Outside the station is a statue of Sherlock Holmes, which is why we were there of course.  Then it was off to find 221B, where the Sherlock Holmes museum is located.

Complete with period policemen outside. I was surprised how busy it was - we had to queue for 30 minutes to get in, and how popular it was with Japanese tourists.

It was a great little museum. All done out to represent the period, and illustrating many of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Dan certainly looked the part, and in fact got mistaken for a guide by tourists asking him questions about the exhibits. Not surprisingly, he knew more about them than the real guides...

And of course, we found the Hound of the Baskervilles, the story of which Dan has adapted into a play due to be performed this October.

After the museum we went to Picadilly Circus, and walked down through Leicester Square to Covent Garden for lunch - a fish finger sandwich! Then walked round the market, and down to the Duchess Theatre to see the matinee of The Play That Goes Wrong.  I've seen it before, and it's one of the funniest plays I've ever seen. An amateur dramatic company putting on a murder mystery, and if anything can go wrong, it does. Sort of a cross between Noises Off and a Farndale play - and if you're involved with AmDram, as we are, it's even funnier.

Then we had to pay a visit to the big Forbidden Planet shop round the corner

and off to a Brazilian BBQ for tea - Cabana. Great food and atmosphere. Then it was back up to St Pancras and the train home. Great day out - really enjoyed it, and I think Dan did too!

What a reunion weekend!

In 1967 I left my junior school, Carr Hill, in Retford, and having passed my 11-plus, went to Retford County High School for Girls. In 1974, I left, along with a great many friends made during the 7 years there. Over the past years we've had a few reunions, and last November had another to celebrate 40 years since leaving school. I know. 40 years. That can't be right. But it is! Facebook has been instrumental in us getting back together, and we have our own private group where we share pictures and memories and chat to each other.

Our last reunion was such a success, we decided to go for a weekend away, and last weekend some of us we descended on a lovely cottage in Staffordshire. I arrived late Friday afternoon, with a car full of food and booze, to discover 4 of them already there and a cottage already overflowing with food and booze. As we said several times over the weekend. I think we overcatered.

Mulled wine flowed. Rosemary arrived with another car load of food and drink. Selfie sticks were practiced with.

Balloons were blown up and danced with (don't ask).

Then we had a fantastic goulash courtesy of Siobhan. Plus puddings, more booze, more laughter...


Then there was Valentine's cards and presents.

Finally bed. Despite the fact that there were 3 bedrooms, someone decided that the five of us should all sleep in one room - which a nice girly thing to do. Except for the fact that someone snored. And ground their teeth. People seemed to think it was me but I don't believe them.

Next morning some were up bright and early (not me),  and there was coffee and kedgeree which was delicious.

Sally arrived, and we started being artistic. Wendy had brought paints, pens, canvases, paper, and a lot of patience and coaching skills. 

After the painting came sewing. Sewing machines were produced and Siobhan and Susan helped us start quilting cushion covers.

Then we had lunch, and decided maybe fresh air was in order. By then Carol had arrived, and we went for a walk.

More sewing when we got back - and we all finished our cushion covers - ably helped along by Prosecco, Baileys and wine ;-)

 Goulash for tea. More drinking, more laughing, some quizes - were there were winners, and losers...

and bed.

Next morning we had smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and Bucks Fizz for breakfast. Cooked by Sally and it was delish!!

Then more painting. I really got the bug and couldn't stop!  Janice arrived, and she and Sue worked on their sock monkeys.

I had a hat to knit, and everyone helped with it!  The day seemed to pass in a blur of painting, eating, drinking and sewing. Great fun. This is my output at the end of it - the hat wasn't quite finished at this point but was a bit later

In the evening, when there was just 5 of us again as Carol, Janice and Sally had left we watched films. The kareoke version of Mamma Mia which we sang along to enthusiastically. Priscilla Queen of the Desert for more Abba songs. And finally, of course, The Rocky Horror Show where we all did the time warp...

And next day it was time to go home. A great weekend, great fun, and great company. Can't wait to do it again!

Wendy has written a much better post than this with lots more pictures, which is here.