Dad and Ruby's Birthday Meal

We threw a, surprisish, Birthday party for Dad and Ruby on Saturday 3rd December.
24 members of the family all gathered round the table for an incredible meal and wonderful way to celebrate Dad's 80th and Ruby's 3rd.

Candles

We were sent this the other day from one of the guests at Ruby's birthday party.

Bowie and Bing

I saw this on it's nice that today and reminded just how much this is absolutely one of my favourite yule tide tunes ever.

it's nice that said:

You know how it is, you’re just minding your own business, making the house nice for Christmas Day and then pow! David Bowie strolls in. So how do you deal with such an unexpected customer? Well you make a little (badly acted) small talk, fire up the old ivories and get down to a hearty duet to warm the Christmas cockles for all those watching. Happy Christmas everybody

Ruby is 3

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago now but the time has flown and all of a sudden it's the middle of the month and I'm massively behind again. So here's what I wrote on Saturday 2rd December:
On this day, 3 years ago, my beautiful little baby girl Ruby was born! Here she is in her first video, just a few days old and one from a couple of days ago. Incredible isn't it that all that separates these two Rubys are 36 months.

Happy 80th Birthday Dad

80 years ago, on this very day, in the city of Bradford, to Mildred and Wilfred Read, a boy named Donald (Don to his friends) was born. Happy 80th Birthday Dad / Grandpa! Your children and your grandchildren all love you very, very much.

Ruby and Maisie's Third Birthday Party

I've got so far behind with my blog recently, not having had any spare time in the past few weeks, I haven't known where to begin catching up. So I'm going to try and work backwards, beginning with the weekend just gone, when we celebrated Ruby's birthday (in advance of the actual day on 3rd December) with a birthday party with her friend Maisie. I'll then redate and post the past weeks entries behind this one.

Birthday Weekend

Some other pictures from this weekend including Ruby at the Institut Francais where we went on Friday to see Around the World with Mouk, the movie. Ruby and I's lunch on Friday at Carluccio's. Oak-Stock on Saturday in the magnificent function room at our local pub, the Royal Oak. Licking the bowl out after Mummy's birthday cake making and finally, bouncy castle at Heidi's birthday party on Sunday afternoon.

Dinner at Samira and Minky's

On Friday night, with Irene babysitting, we went for an incredible dinner and a superb evening, at our neighbours; Samira and Minky's.

Sunday 20th November

A pretty perfect Sunday: big fried breakfast, nip to Queen's Park Farmers Market to pick up pies and birds, walk - play - coffee in Queen's Park, home for lunch and snooze, stories and playtime late afternoon.

Dumplings

I was very proud indeed of the stew and dumplings (thanks for the recipe Mum) I made for Alex, Robyn, Olly, Jess, Adam and Lani on Saturday 19th. It was the first time I've seen all our babies together and all play so nicely. So good to see their Mums and Dads too.