'Under the Weather"

A curious phrase - 'under the weather' - but that is what I am today - a kind of non-specific sick - tired, blocked sinus, lethargic. All I wish is for it to go away, so I can resume proper writing and research.

2011: my year of being 60

It's my year of being 60. A week ago I 'celebrated' my 60th birthday, with a quiet Friday. Heather and I went for lunch at the Angel at Hetton, and I opened some presents and cards. It was on the Saturday 15th that the big event took place, with cousins John & Sandy Barker coming up from London, meeting friends at Pictureville in Bradford, going to a free preview of 'West is West', the follow up of 'East is East' (1999). Then we wandered around the Media Museum, until Heather guided me to the basement, and pointed out a room with tables, balloons, streamers - a surprise venue for my party that she had organised. Lots of friends, Heth's brother Ric, with Denise, from Lincoln, TF and Clare from London, Paul and Sally Austin from Cambridge, and many good friends from here in Yorkshire. We had a lovely evening, and it continued with a Sunday morning brunch of scrambled egg and smoked salmon with Lindauer on the Sunday morning. A week ago tomorrow...