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Just a quickie about my sisters Maryse & Jolijn's 75th birthday celebration. We, that is John and myself together with the Jellies had been invited for their special birthday dinner party on the 21st, although their actual birthday was on the 20th which they celebrated just among themselves in the company of company of David and Didi (Jolijn's only son) who came over with her from Holland on the 19th. Misa's son Martijn also the eldest, arrived on Saturday for lunch just as we did. We arrived nice and early having left home at 9 am and this time we didn't go via Stonehenge!!!

For their special birthday I had made each of them a sampler, something I love to do unfortunately this is the only picture I have of them, Misa's somehow got lost somewhere but it is just the same only with Maryse on it, and her roses are yellow. Got tired of doing the second lot with the pink.

as you can see it was a beautiful warm spring day, with lots of flowers everywhere. Misa's new fountain was running. this was a present of her children. A lovely lunch outside, and then afterwards we sat about either having a rest, chatting and getting ready for the evening do. There were 1 of us, luckily at two tables in a delightful hotel in Coleford, near where Maryse lives. Wonderful food and wine, company was enjoyed by all. The others being David's son and daughter-in-law and one of his daughter's and son-in-law. They both live not to far away. Maryse wanted us to meet David's children and Didi and Martijn and us two were from her side of the family. We stayed at the Cottage, she seems to have place for us all, although Martijn stayed at David's as he didn't want to share a bunk bed with Didi; they both being rather large chaps.

We all met up for a brunch at 10 am and then we all dispersed around 11.30, Didi going back to Holland via Bristol, Martijn to his home in Cambridgeshire and we home to Godalming via Christina's home in Long Compton so that we could see her, and pick up the marmalade she makes for John each year.We were quite tired as we came home a little late having to battle with the heavy traffic.

But on Monday eve we tootled off to St.Albans to see Caitlin perform in Much Ado About Nothing. She was playing Beatrice of of the leading parts, and very good she was indeed. It was a great performance these youngsters put on, and Caitlin was by far the best. (Not Oma-speak this but it is so) The stage setting was very imaginative with a huge circular cloth representing the forest and various cushions as well as a couple of stools which had the habit of emitting a loud crack when the person on it stood up. Also Beatrice got stuck under the circular forest. Due to the fact that the audience was meant to have gone out in the interval so she could emerge, and of course we didn't. But non the less it was great performance even though the actors spoke at a cracking speed which caused the play to end rather earlier than expected. It appeared also that some of them skipped a couple of pages which caused Beatrice to sprint across the stage in various directions. Shaun comment: "didn't know Caitlin could run that fast!" The proud Dad before the performance and unfortunately one of the few better pix.

Here is Caitlin in full make up afterwards at home. Not in her stage clothes, they were mostly dressed in modern costumes but that worked very well. The 'men' were splendid in beards and moustached but we were not allowed to take photos during the performance so I only have this one:

Thats it for now folks, till the next time.