Oliver

Eighteen years ago today, it rained heavily and I got very wet, walking from the old Addenbrookes Hospital car park to the Rosie Maternity Home, (attached to Addenbrookes) to see my first grandchild; Oliver. He was not due to be born until January, but he was in such a hurry to arrive. I first saw him in his incubator and was not able to cuddle him for three weeks, because he was very, very, poorly. He spent much of his first six months of life in Addenbrookes for one reason or another.

Today my favourite grandson, (I only have one grandson,) is eighteen. He can be seen here after opening one of his presents from the GOG and I. Much to his amazement, his parents gave him a PS4 this morning and this was the game he so desperately wanted; Fifa 2015. He had lots of cards including one signed by eighteen members of the football team he supports; Ipswich Town.

Tonight after his judo training he is going with some friends to celebrate in several pubs and staying with them overnight; a hangover is forecast for tomorrow. As to the weather, today it has been sunny and I also got several hugs today too.

Cake

My husband and I went to the dentist this morning and then purchased a few things in Saffron Walden before coming home.

Today’s picture shows the preparation of a Victoria Sponge cake, which is for Oliver’s eighteen birthday tomorrow. It is gluten-free, so it has not risen as much as one made with ‘normal’ flour, but once iced, with chocolate buttercream it will taste fine.

Polyanthus Flowers

This morning it was raining, but this stopped during the morning and the sun shone although it was still rather chilly. This meant that the builder could get on with the work; things appear to be going well.

The Ocado lorry had been and the shopping put away by 0815 hours. The final presents have been wrapped and the Christmas table presents are sorted.  Oliver’s eighteenth birthday present and Victoria’s unbirthday present are also sorted and wrapped. I still have to make his gluten-free birthday cake, but his birthday is not until Friday so I will do that tomorrow, after a visit to the dentist for a check-up.

Today’s picture shows some pink Polyanthus flowers growing in the front garden. Although they are not looking their best, they do add some colour to our winter garden; complemented  with the blue, red and yellow ones, which are also flowering nearby.

Redwing

Many thanks for your comments and birthday wishes on yesterday’s blip.

Today’s blip was taken through my ‘office’ window and across the road of this Redwing, who would not keep as still as I would have liked. The red on its wing does not show very well in this picture, but this one and about another twenty have been stripping the berries from the tree in the garden; this one is now eating sloes along the hedgerow.

A busy working day today with time between students being used to catch up on other paperwork and emails. 

Birthday

I had decided that as it is my birthday today that I would blip my cards and presents, so when I went to the Post Office this morning I did not take my camera.

A mistake, as I walked along the lane, a little Wren was hopping about and posed beautifully for me by sitting on a fence wire, very close and for several seconds. Moral: always take your proper camera.

I have not done very much today although I visited my family this afternoon to collect presents and cards.

Today’s blip shows cards and presents including a Swarovski pig and necklace and earrings from the GOG as well as chocolates, CD and new iPod earphones.