More beer and birthdays

Thanks to everyone who's sent us wedding cards. We've only just taken them down and have enjoyed looking through them and reading your messages.

Info for those what 'ave asked... Straffe Hendrick was sold to Riva and is now brewed by Liefmans who took over Riva a couple of years ago.

This month's caption competition is of Mr H on one of my Dad's sit-on mowers - no prize offered, just the smuggness of winning. Obviously he was emulating his hero...

Barely had we got back from Bruges but we were off up to Wigan for my Nanna's 100th birthday. Believe it or not, until about 3 months ago she was looking after herself in her own home - cooking meals, etc (albeit with carers popping in to help her out of bed in the morning and put her back in last thing at night). But problems with her legs meant she was having difficulty standing up at the cooker and, after a couple of falls, she finally decided to go into residential care. She's in the same home as my other Gran, just 5 minutes walk from my parents' house, with her own single en-suite room over-looking Worthington Lakes and is fully enjoying the three square meals a day!

The Home made a great fuss of her, putting pictures of her and banners around the place and the owner even popped in with a bouquet. She had loads of visitors and thoroughly enjoyed being the centre of attention. And in the picture 'yes' it is her own hair and 'no' it hasn't gone completely grey yet!

When they were looking a bit tired we took our leave and walked over to the Crown in Bradley. The Lotus owners club meet there the first Saturday each month so we sat on the 'sun terrace' (decking) overlooking some fabbie cars in the car park. The bar had some fantastic cask ales on draught but sadly they don't list them on the website as they change so quickly - the majority of them we'd never heard of. Their selection of foreign beers was pretty impressive too. We decided to stay for dinner (the steak and kidney pudding was to die for) and and the wine waiter was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their beers. Mum and Dad came up for a couple of drinks and to collect us on their way back from a wedding at about 8.30. All in all a very nice day.


Oh, and if anyone wants to buy my Dad's 'classic' Z1300 Kawasaki - see attached photo - just leave us your contact details as a comment