A very great day: 12th January 2009

                                                                

You have guessed it! It was Alessia aka Beanie's first birthday and what an occasion it was! And there were balloons all over, although the biggest and the pride of the collection had vanished into the stratosphere from the push chair when Dad Mike and Alessia went to collect them.   

She was beautifully dressed in a purple blue dress that auntie Giovanna had given her for Christmas and she was wearing it for the very first time she looked so sweet and lovely in it.

                                                                               

The whole Agrawal family plus Rita's  cousin Paula from Sicily who comes every Christmas, and Alessia's godmother  Rosie were already there.  I was the last to arrive, just myself as John stayed home with the Jellies, there would have been too many of us.  It was Alessia's day after all.

When I arrived   she was having her birthday lunch:   Clelia, Lidia and Paula all helping her.  She was enjoying her meal very much in spite of all the attention to distract her as she loves her food.   We were all had champagne drink to celebrate this special occasion; and once we had finished that it was time to go and look at the many presents she had received.    Here is Rita taking  her  for the many cards and presents that there were for Alessia to open.          There were quite few books for Rita and Mike  to read to her every night. This was a great favourite 

 She was very much taken with sign of "Chateau Alessia Kobrak   although Mike wasn't too sure where it could go as their new home in Tuscany will be called Ca' Alessia.  One of her favourite Xmas present from her uncle Robert, was a fantastic walker with multiple items on the front such as bells and hooters and even with her own telephone!  She even gave a demonstration how well  she was learning to walk by going up and down the outside corridor of  flat 30 accompanied by  grandfather Ratan and other onlookers. I have a little bit of film but am not sure if I can get it into this blog However will have a try. If not till the next time.

 And from now on I suppose she is no longer Beanie but Alessia although for her Oma she will always privately be "Beanie"  

Here I am again this is the continuation from yesterday!

Part II

Right where was I? Oh yes Fiona's 50th. As I wrote Fiona thought that it was going to be dinner for them four, with Paul Caitlin and Shaun on 3rd;there was another party on her actual birthday the 4th! She had no idea of the other guests who had congregated in town. Only in the afternoon after Nancy & Jim had arrived together with Sue and Alistair that morning, had gone for a walkabout in the afternoon ( they were not going to sit in their hotel room) and Nancy was trying on a blouse while Jim kept guard when all of a sudden he spotted Fiona at the same time as she spotted him. Fiona being Fiona did a double take gave her Dad a little wave and sauntered off. That evening they had a good laugh about it; and Fiona admitted she mentally enlarged the dinner to 6. But what a surprise when she entered the private room at Loch Fynne (the restaurant) and saw all the other guest. There were balloon a ginormous pink 50, champagne ready for pouring a black board decorated appropriately by John and Siena (Darra's daughter) and all of us signing Happy Birthday. Fiona looked lovely in her black top with 3 rows of pearlized buttons round her neckline and cuff. And me without my camera, I had been too cold that to remember it!!! A shame because we were all in our best finery. We had a wonderful time and meal lots of wine to drink for those who could and Fiona had some great presents including a diamond pendant to which we had all contributed and is on order. Well if you don't have diamond by the time you are 50 when then?

After this birthday it was John's on the 8th of Jan, a Thursday. We intended to go out for a special meal that evening at a super restaurant Kinghams in Shere. By special request. But unfortunately John had a very important meeting in Brighton, lunch with someone he was anxious to see, and I had to go along as a witness.

This meant the Jellies as well. We were due at 12 o'clock at a Manor near Brighton and left at 10 am which didn't give us much time for a walk and anyway it was fiercely cold so it was once around a picnic area at the bottom of the South Downs. We decided that two big meals on the same day was too much so we decided to postpone it all for a day to Friday. He had his cards which I had saved, and his presents some nice glasses to replace our chipped collection and another DVD series: Band of Brothers. Its quite a series which we had not seen and its very good, only after all that war, fighting and soldiers who all looked alike to me we decided to give it a bit of a rest. By as a contrast I got the Rosamund Pilchard series much more my style that John's. We now take turn and turn about. And all this time it was bitterly cold well below zer0. this was taken on Sunday 11th when we were envelopped in a freezing fog all day. But we went out specially to take some photos like this cobweb there were masses of them about, really spectacular. Unfortunately I find the cold really doesn't help my sciatic nerve and I was in too much pain to walk further and take many pix.

And then Monday 12th a very special day: "Beanie as she still is to me" was 1 year old and we had been summons to a family party at the Piper Building. There were at least 6 from Rita's side of the family and only me from Micko's side, as John elected to stay at home with Jellies; he had too much to do from his Thursday meeting. So I went on my own and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The Birthday Girl looked so lovely in this gorgeous dress; French of course, Giovanna had bought it in Paris no less. When I arrived she was sitting eating her lunch with most of the females fluttering around . She got masses of presents from all over the world, a lot of clothes, in fact that girl could change clothes at least 3 x a day and not wear the same thing for a month! But she got lots of children books which her parents will read to her; and best of all lots of toys. Her favourite was a giant lego box. She loves taking things out and putting them back.

Here is one of her favourite men in her life who can't do enough for her!

She is definitely begining to walk and was given a wonderful stroller for Christmas with lights, tunes and even a telephone on it! Here she is going up and down the corridor with her Grandfather cheering her on.

Wow it seems as if I had disappeared from earth into space

Its been that long since I last wrote anything, and worse I also had no time to read other people's blogs and make comments. SO SORRY. So much has happened. November 29 th John had a car accident and had his thumb pulled out of its socket and was in a plaster/plastic caste for three weeks, (all is fine there) but his car wasn't, its still being repaired due to the insurance company ballsing everything up, and new parts that need to be imported from Europe. Luckily John was able to rent a car in spite of his advanced age so we weren't stuck as me and the Jellies not so happy about traveling in the Stag, although I miss an automatic, hire car = Ford Fiesta with gears.

Any way December wasn't easy what with Christmas and having to get my Xmas presents finished. All members of the immediate family received a Mac photo album + videos on a DVD. I had spent months learning how to do this, most of my one-to-one sessions were spent on that, but it was well worth it. And now (by request) I got from the family Final Cut 4 which should make my films a lot better. When I mentioned that I had been given this to one of my trainers their reply was that I must be getting on ever so well as only specialised trainers could help me there. I also got myself the corresponding book so perhaps I will be fine.

To begin with the Xmas festivities my ladies in Stitch & Chatter had decided not to go out for a Christmas lunch but instead have a Xmas tea here in Flat 1. Every one brought something, I resuscitated my Xmas table clothes and bought some special table candle decorations (which I later used in Flat 2) and we had a wonderful time feasting , giving cards and little 'gifties'. I really wasn't in the mood for too much Christmas decorations as my back and sciatic nerve was paining me so much that the pain killers took all my energy away (but of that more later). Actually I suddenly got in the mood on Christmas Eve after listening to the 9 lessons and Carols from King's College which was magical, and really put me in the mood. Nonetheless only the minimal decoration and our fake tree was brought up as John had stored every thing under the stairs in the cellar which was inaccessible . Still with greenery gathered/stolen from the woods it all looked quite festive.

However Christmas Eve and Day John and I were on our own, every one was celebrating with their own families, and John and I had our presents on Christmas day; lots of lovely things, one a super fleece top for me, and jeans and a new jacket for John as well as the Poirot series and Miss Marple with Joan Hickson for me. She was by far the best Miss Marple of them all. We went for some good walks and just took it easy although I was also working on Alessia's sampler that had to be finished by the 12th of Jan.

The various families came for lunch on various days after: John's two sons and new daughter-in-law on the 27th; the St. Albanites + Fred on the 28th, and on the 30th Mike, Rita & Alessia with Fred. He was staying with each of the families so of course he was welcome. I had ordered most of the food from Waitrose so all I had to do is stick food in the oven and lay the table. I had main courses, puddings and snick snacks for all the days. Worked very well only the fridge and freezer were overflowing and some of the food had to be stowed out side. Luckily the weather played along as after Xmas we had some very cold weather; it was freezing below -2 0r -1 for several days and below that at night. Waitrose came up trumps and included instructions with all the main courses, vegs. and even the snick snacks except for the glazed gammon. With that came nothing so I assumed it was table ready. On the 27th just before we were due to sit down I wasn't too happy about its looks, cut a sliver off and found it red and not pink. What to do, panic panic! Had brilliant idea and bunged it into the microwave for 20 min. on high. Then into the oven for final glazing. It was superb, and the best of all the main courses. I will remember that.

On the 28th as I said Paul, Fiona Caitlin Shaun and Fred came; and after lunch we gave each other the various presents; especially Louise's wonderful photo album with all her Tuscan photos. They are really great and something to be looked at many a time.

Opa Fred and Caitlin in the kitchen
And on the 30th it was Michael, Rita & Alessia came for lunch

as you can see Alessia loves to make a mess by emptying our bucket of theatre programs, and then she will tidy up again.

And she is about to start walking, with a little help from Opa.

After the New Year which we spent at home watching our new videos; there was Fiona's 50th surprise dinner in St Albans which was really wonderful, her parents and brother & sister-in-law plus Darra Paul's best man with his family and of course John and myself had been invited to lovely restaurant in St. Albans.

Because it was so freezing cold John gave in to my pleas and we left the Jellies at home, rather than taking them with us and having them for 4 1/2 hours freezing in the car. They were perfectly okay and I don't think the were aware of our absence.

the white icicles on this bush with red berries will show how cold it was.

Must go now to have my toenails clipped. And prepare Jellies and our meal afterwards

So bye bye ....................................................... to be continued tomorrow my post on Fiona's party, John's 81st and Beanie's first birthday party.