Post 94: 3rd February

Have just returned from a fun weekend. Teresa, Melissa and Elliott have been planning a surprise 60th birthday party for Gerald. Between them they organised a coach to take a party of friends and family from their house in Essex to a seafood restaurant in Brighton. Teresa asked me if I could go, but I clearly couldn’t promise, since I wasn’t sure about the impending hospital admission. I said we might be able to meet them at the restaurant but it would be a last minute arrangement.
As it happens things worked out well and we were able to book a ferry with a view to the day in Brighton and an overnight stay with Chris’s brother Andrew and his wife Nancy .
Gerald rang me on Friday, with no clue about the surprise. We chatted for ages and I smiled when he told me that Elliott and Melissa were taking him to a breakfast to celebrate his birthday…I said I hoped he would enjoy it!
Yesterday we got to Brighton in good time for the 1pm rendezvous and went to look round the shops and lanes before walking down to Regency Square. Gerald was so delighted to see me! He told us that he had drunk gallons of coffee that morning as Elliott and Melissa were trying to keep him from being at home until 10am to give guests the chance to arrive. Once on the coach he still didn’t know where they were heading…Lakeside? (why?) Southend?
We had a great time together until their coach departed at 5pm. Then Chris and I drove on to Eastbourne and the party collapsed into the coach for the journey back. Unbeknown to Gerald there was more partying in the evening!
I am so glad that I was able to share the occasion with friends and family..it was touch and go as to whether I would be ‘free’ to travel.
Home now and I am grateful to Teresa and Melissa for all their hard work and to Andrew and Nancy for their great hospitality. Altogether a lovely weekend, though I have to confess to feeling more than a little exhausted this evening!