Friday 11 May 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

I'm just back from the Isle of Wight where we have been celebrating my Dad's 90th birthday.  We are a very small family but luckily at the retirement flats where he lives there is a very active social life and many friends and neighbours turned out to help him celebrate.  A wonderful buffet was provided and we brought a cake made by a dear friend's friend who managed to fit on all the references we provided.

Here's Dad with Mr T and me

and here's the birthday boy with my sister, Janet - I'm really pleased with this shot.
He is a very young 90 and it was interesting to see that his 'gang' seem to be made up of the youngest and liveliest of his friends.
Joan and Elise, Mick and Mike have been wonderful friends, looking out for Dad and taking him out.
Dad was asked if he minded if Patsy provided some entertainment as 'she' had had to cancel an evening at Christmas, Dad was a little unsure if he wanted a drag artiste at his birthday do, but being the chap he is, didn't want to say no, but Patsy provided excellent entertainment with plenty of songs which ranged from WW2 to the sixties - with a couple of changes of costume - which gave the opportunity for everyone to have a bit of a sing song


The buffet was spread on the billiard table 

and every one tucked in


Dad cut his cake...

...toasts were drunk...

...and Patsy came back for a 60's session.
We all have to declare it a thorough success, and wish Dad continuing good health and many more birthdays to come.

Here are a few of his cards ...

... and I made him something to keep as we knew the cake would soon be eaten.

So what about those references - he was brought up in Wimbledon and moved to Upminster at the other end of the District Line (We know Wimbledon isn't on the underground, but Raynes Park just doesn't sound the same), when I was three.  He was in the RAF ground crew in the war and served in North Africa, hence the pyramid and the scorpion which stung him, which he claimed to be his only war wound - something my sister and I loved to hear about.  He worked as a printer for the Bank of England turning out bank notes and was a talented draftsman although I do not remember him doing much drawing. He loved making models including kites, model aeroplanes - the sort that flew, and beautiful scale model farm carts, and even a scratch build HMSVictory which he gave away for charity.  He always loved fishing and still enjoys a chat to the fishermen on the sea front at Cowes where he lives. He also likes a little flutter on the horses and is a keen subscriber to Private Eye.  He also uses his lap-top to surf the web occasionally so hopefully he will see this tribute. So Dad your birthday may be over but I think can keep celebrating for the whole year!!

Jill



12 comments:

Su said...

Looks like it was a lovely celebration. How wonderful to look that well and be enjoying life to the full at 90 :-)

ju-north said...

Pleased you all had a lovely day!

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Jill, your Dad sounds like a real star and without being disingenuous, he really does not look 90!! Despite all of that life experience tucked under his belt he doesn't 'sound' like a 90 year old either. Good on him. Glad you all had a birthday party to remember.

Jane Housham said...

What a lovely celebration and all so positive and lively -- it really goes a long way to counteract more negative images of getting older. WOnderful.

Joanna said...

Many happy returns to you dad, who is a VERY young looking 90!! The cake and the 'K' must bring back some happy memories for him.

menopausalmusing said...

Don't know what he's on, but I'll have some of it!

It looks to have been a grand "bash".

Emma said...

Fabulous party cake & Keepsake Kard ;) Lovely stitching below.

Clare Wassermann said...

How lovely of you to share this with us. Ask your dad if he remembers Jim Arnold. he was chief engineer at Debden printing works at Bank of England and lived in Walthamstow? he was my father in law's father! They must have known each other.

Gina said...

Sounds like a fabulous celebration and your Dad looks amazing!

Linda Vincent said...

How wonderful.....you gave your dad a day to remember. And what a great photo of you, your dad and Mr T!!

She Who Doodles said...

how awesome. it's great to see someone hit 90 in good health body and mind.

harmony and rosie said...

I'm so pleased you explained the references, what a fantastic story and a wonderful cake, I imagine he was absolutely thrilled with it all. So happy belated birthday to your father, who looks super young and healthy by the way. Long may it continue.
Kate