Getting Very Ancient

I was 59 on Sunday, an oh my god birthday if ever I saw one. How did I get to be so ancient? We didn’t do much as very tired post the Royal Bath & West Show so ambled about at home. My sister came over with birthday plants from her and my brother and we strolled around the farm doing the morning inspection. Chas cooked lunch, I had a snooze and then Chas cooked dinner as well. The boys have given me a bread making machine, no more kneading, it hasn’t arrived yet but they sent me a picture of it. I am told that the recession has brought a rapid increase in sales of bread makers and sewing machines, make do and mend returns. It was a beautiful day so we sat aound outside knocking back the Cava and admiring the Tasmanian tree fern. I thought I might have killed it but suddenly there are fifteen fronds starting to uncurl – fantastic.

Joshua phoned from Bolivia. He was all on his own and feeling a little frail as his friend Jim has gone back to Quito. But now he has found himself a Spanish course for two weeks and cheerfulness has returned. I spent ages looking at his pictures on Flickr and chuckling at the one of a menu which reads ‘Pancake filled with sweat’, yum yum, and admiring the Peruvian hairless dog.