Happy Birthday Bobby xxx

I don't know if this is the time of year when baby lizards/geckos hatch but our conservatory has had more than its fair share of teeny weeny ones running around.  We try and make sure that they escape the clutches of the cats but in so doing they often hurl themselves headlong into the runners of the sliding doors from which they seem unable to escape even though there are drainage holes for rainwater through which they could find freedom.  Today John and I performed a rescue by means of a regimentally organised pincer movement which encouraged the little beast to exit via the drainage hole and into the garden being careful to avoid a swim in the process.  It lives to fight another day or it fights to live another day!!

It being Monday John generally Skypes his Mum but occasionally the day has been and gone and the call has slipped his mind so he has set up a reminder on his phone.  I guess if you are going to Skype someone who has a bad shoulder (which she can hardly move) and is confined to barracks because of the effects of Storm Ellen (or is it now Storm Frances?) where better to do so than from the comfort of your swimming pool!!!  There is nothing like rubbing it in is there???

Today is Bobby's birthday and although all his birthdays are special this was not an extra special one.  Bobby is easy to buy for because he likes a little drop of Real Ale and a packet of nuts so that is exactly what we got him along with a jar of my homemade lemon pickle - the last jar I have available until the new season of lemons is upon us.  I also made his birthday card.  I only do it for the chosen few nowadays as I have wound down most of my card making stuff.

We sat and chatted for such a long time that I fear we delayed Di and Rob going off to Santa Barbara for a romantic celebratory lunch but it was a beautiful day and Santa Barbara is in such a lovely spot that I guess it didn't matter what time they got there.

We are going out to celebrate with them on Thursday when we are trying somewhere new (for us) - the Golden Gate in Coral Bay which does both Chinese and Indian food.  We have brought Di's menu back with us so we can have a good look and so we are prepared on Thursday - so much choice, so little time!!!!  Anyway Happy Birthday Bobby - we hope it was a good one.

In the post today I had our long awaited parcel from my lovely and very talented friend Mark Rowe.  It was the portrait that he had done of Chivers.  It was even more beautiful than we had anticipated and had come through the postal system unscathed thanks to Sally's careful packaging.  We now need to get it framed (it has come ready mounted).  It is a fitting reminder of our lovely Boy who we miss daily, and never more so than at the moment because if we nip around to see Lakis, Argy and Kia his absence is tangible - he would always come with us and spend the evening desperately trying to get up close and personal with Lakis.