Friday.

 

Seagulls starting to nest halfway up Hunstanton cliffs.
Yesterday was Ann's birthday. What the grandchildren call 'A big Zero' birthday. She was, in fact seventy yesterday. Loads of flowers came by post (as well as loads of cards). Her big brother gave her a massive bunch on wednesday. So much so that the place now looks like a good, and well stocked, florist's shop. Ann has always had an ambition to fly in a hot air baloon, and it turned out that the children have clubbed together to give her that ambition. On reception of this news Ann spent the rest of the day in a state between high excitement, and slight apprehension. She was, to use a medical term 'all of a doo dah'. For friend Lori's benefit I should perhaps explain that 'all of a doo dah' is used to indicate a state of mind somewhere betwixt the heeby jeebies and the abdabs - all clear now, Lori?
In the evening I took Ann out for a meal at one of our favourite eating places, the Swan at Monks Eleigh. I had a plaice (poached to perfection) and Ann had the vegetarian option, pancakes with a cheese filling in a herb sauce. We had left room for pudding, and the landlady (who had guessed, or gathered, it was a birthday celebration) brought Ann's pudding in with a lighted candle in it, and suggested that I now had her (the landlady's) permission to serenade my wife. There was one other couple in the place (a young couple down from Yorkshire we found out later) a table or so from us, and I asked them to join me in singing Happy Birthday to Ann, which we all did with great gusto, after which the evening turned into a very pleasant small party. So don't let anyone tell you that the English are cold and reserved, Lori. Ann said afterwards it was one of the best birthdays she could remember.
Nearly bedtime now, so; Goodnight All.