Friday 16th August 2024

Woke around 0800. Rolled slowly out of bed. Passed father on the way to the kitchen, taking mother a tray of tea in bed to celebrate her 91st birthday! Prepped the breakfast...did crumpets with cream cheese, ham, and scrambled eggs. Mother opened her birthday cards. Nice one from dad with a self-penned poem in it. Put together some beef and tomato, and chicken and avocado sandwiches, and stuck some accoutrements in a hamper, then we all drove out to Druridge Bay. 

Very busy...like Brighton beach! We wandered down to the beach and sat on a dune for a while. Mum, Kath, and Aki, went off for a quick stroll along the sands. Dad and watched through binoculars! Returned to the car park and found a picnic table...lunched there in a brisk sea breeze. Drove north to Amble, and enjoyed ice creams at Spurrlini's, then drove home via Ulgham, and Morpeth. Ordered an Indian takeaway for dinner. Jim and Emma turned up. 

I finished icing the cake, while Aki cooked rice, and Kath drove down to Darras Hall to collect the takeaway. Seven of us congregated around the dining-table. Broke open a bottle of Cava. The Indian food was followed by birthday cake, and cheese and biscuits. We adjourned to the living-room to watch a bit of telly. Jim and Emma drove home, and left us to it. Mum seemed to have enjoyed her day...