Caitlin's birthday Celebrations

On Saturday 8th of September we celebrated Caitlin' s 15th birthday which was on the 31st of August. Imagine my first grandchild being 15, almost unbelievable when I think of how she came into the world 15 years ago as such a tiny scrap of humanity. But she has grown apace and has not only always been "our miracle baby" as Fiona and I used to call her, but she has grown into such a delightful person. Intelligent, interested in so many things, especially photography, computering just to name a few. This is my favourite pix of her taken at her celebration luncheon. Could almost be her official photograph!

Because John and I had had to go to a wedding on the first Saturday after her birthday on the 31st we arranged for them to come to Godalming and I would take them all out to lunch on the o8/09 the following Sat. An added bonus was that Micko and Rita were also present, Michael being in the country and not at work.

They all arrived at the correct time of 1 pm and we first had a talk about THE birthday girl and her presents, her main present was this fantastic camera to which we had all contributed and to which she used a lot of her saved up "dosh" but also Oma's present from her sisters the walking cane was much admired by Micko. Shaun wasn't that interested. And here are Rita and Paul. Rita is feeling so much better now she can eat and enjoy her food again and has even gained some weight. We had been so worried while she was feeling so sick but now you must agree she looks very 'bonnie' and even pregnant in fact she looked so happy and radiant.

We then went off to the restaurant where I had booked: Prezzo, an Italian chain fairly new in Godalming. We had a round table for eight and the food was great. Even Shaun could enjoy it! Caitlin was to be the official photographer, some of the other guests and last but not least we three 'musketeers

We all had a stupendous meal with 2 bottles of wine as Paul doesn't drink alcohol any more, and 3 cokes, 1 sprite and innumerable bottles of mineral water. We had pre starters starters, mains and puddings, and coffee and we didn't leave till 3.30pm Went for a little walk and look-around in Godalming. A new shop had just opened selling the most gorgeous cashmere sweaters, but at £200 each, no thanks.

Then it was back to 138 Peperharow where the Jellies were awaiting and every one enjoyed the 'footie' on the telly. As you can see Jed joined them, Nellie isn't a fan.

As as a final treat and ending here is a little movie taken by Caitlin on my Fujifilm camera, hers doesn't do videos. The first shot is horrendous, but the rest is okay. just don't look too closely.

Just click on the middle it should work.

So now I am clocking off tata to you all and happy hopping

One more treat.

As the video came over so well in the Jellies' birthday post I will now down load what was the first one and I think even nicer, although it could do with some editing. Something I don't seem to have enough time for to do.

So here it is:

The Jellies were 2 years old on Saturday September 1st.

I can't believe it, the Jellies Jed and Nellie were two years old yesterday and they certainly have grown up. We celebrated the day for them with a most enormous marrow bone each. Nellie could hardly carry hers, and Jed loves to nick it, but then that gives her a chance to investigate his. They are both absolutely sure that the other's bone is the BEST. But they are very good and don't fight over them.

To celebrate their life here are a few of my favourite photos:


These were about a year old in 2006.


When they first came to live with us just weeks old in November 2005 this what they looked like:

they were always together day and night. In fact even today when they each have their own beans bags, Jed's is the biggest, as he now weighs 26 kilos!! and to think when they first came i could tuck both of them under my arms to hurry them out of door for toilet training. But even now they are still 'babies' in that John sings them to sleep every night with "my bonny lies over the ocean" (which I turn into "my Nellie lies over the ocean", the few times that I have to put them to bed. They snuggle up under their blankets as good as gold and settle down for the night.

As you can imagine we love our Jellies, but John in particular as this pix shows this is the bench they all sit on after a walk in the back woods they feel they must wash him or its their way of giving out kisses.
or when he has a coffee break. They go for a good walk every day and we make sure it is in a different place all over the county. They are allowed of the lead, able to run about, explore and sniff their "newspaper" not like a lot of dogs we meet who have to walk on the lead poor things. They are getting better and better at obeying and now walk very nicely on the pavement having become quite street wise
Bit their favourite place to walk is at the sea side, and we often go to Littlehampton on the coast where they rush about in the dunes hiding from each other, fighting like March hares, only its more play than fight; many games are enjoyed like these below:

But what I really want to share with you all is this little video that I managed to take Dec 2005:

They are two, but it takes too long to up load the two; even one may take a while but it is worth it, definitely.

I will upload the second one in a short while once I know how it is received. Saludos to you all.