Good afternoon all.

Lot better day today. Still a bit 'drafty' but nowhere near as bad as last week and a half. If it hadn't been for the 5 minutes of hailstones as we were heading back to the car, it would have been a lovely morning.

Gary got his favourite scampi and chips for his birthday meal. We went to a fish restaurant. Got 2 mini fish and chips and the mini scampi and chips, bread and butte and diet cokes to drink. Far too much food for any of us to finish (despite supposedly mini) and all for £18.50. Can't fault it and it was all very good.

Gary bought himself yet another watch with his birthday money so he is well pleased with himself.

Glad you've also enjoyed your early birthday celebrations, Lynn. It's lovely when family comes together. We usually all get together for Gary's birthday, but my Brother-in-Law died last year so my sister couldn't come because she can't drive and my Brother and his Wife couldn't come because my Brother has Parkinsons which has progressed to a point where he can't drive now.

My Sister and Daughter will be over in summer though when the regular bus trips get going so we are all looking forward to that

We go separately when we go over to Barnsley to visit the family too because my Sister won't have a dog in the house and I won't leave her in the car. The compromise is one of us stays home while the other goes over there. Gary goes too with whoever is going.

The bus trips were £9.50 last year so it actually works out cheaper than coming by car. Far cheaper if you factor in the extortionately high car park charges here. We buy a parking permit each year which allows us to use any of the ELDC car parks in the area. It was about £160 last year but compared to £8 or £9 parking in the car parks it works out well

Glad the birthday man had a good time and one cannot have to many watches according to my watch obsessed brother LOL

Anyone watch the all star musical thing. I thought Daniel from corrie was brilliant. Night all.