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The Post 30 Post

This time last week I woke up to my 30th Birthday. (Yes it has taken a while to write this, the started off with me making a big mistake and finished with a cold from hell)

The plan for the day started with me waking to a massive migraine headache thing that put me on my ass (must be the age) After a while it passed and Lucy and I were due up at the farm for the statuary family get together. You know the process most of the immediate family are there, then there are some who travel a bit further but most of all it is a good excuse for the family to catch up. This time however we throw something into the mix; two families, both Lucy’s and mine. So sitting with my grandparents were Lucy’s brother and nephew Ant and Oscar. It was a strange setup but worked well.

After the cutting of the cake it was planned to go out on the town and have a few drinks, but not too late, I’m getting old now.
But I ended up sitting with my dad in the garden chewing the cud putting the world to rights. Eventually I got fed up with Lucy nagging so I got back in the car to go home and get changed. When I walked through the front door; SURPRISE!! Room full of friends and well wishers.

I’ve never had a surprise birthday party in my life and I was knocked six ways over this. Turned out Lucy had been planning this for quite some time, even during the afternoon things were going on behind my back I did not twig. Sarah had not forgotten Farnkie’s feeding bottles; they went home to set up the food. Sally had not just left without saying good bye; she went to let Matt in to collect the balloons.
Thank you to every one that turned up or was involved in the planning or execution. It was a total shock and awesome surprise.

What a birthday present

Today is my younger brother’s; Sean’s birthday. He turned 26.
After all the usual stuff you get for birthday’s these days he was given the best possible news. His partner Sarah had her 20 week scan and it looks to be he will be having a little baby daughter later in the year.
I guess congratulations are in order, on both accounts. Happy birthday bro and good luck with your new journey into parenthood.

I know I promised fewer birthday posts but this one sort of felt important.

Happy 60th

There is not much that you could say about Mr. K J Chamberlin, go on you can google him and despite the fact that the Applegate directory have him listed as a business there is not much to find.
Yet he has been the most important male figure in my life and I get to call him dad.
Today marks his 60th birthday and by all accounts it does appear to be a rather large milestone in the scheme of things.
I’m not going to get all gooey and say I miss the father/son picnics and sports day events; simply because there weren’t any. Not through choice I’m sure, it’s just that during his early stages my father decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a farmer, this normally meant that during those summer holidays I spent most of the time sitting on a tractor or running up and down fields following a combine. Something that I would not have changed for the world.

Yet he was never without his words of wisdom:
“son, if you want to go far in this world, never become a farmer” These words remain strong and so far I’ve not gone back on them. But looking at what he has acheived I would not knock the outcome; a healthy happy family around him, valued friends, a respected member of the local community and a interesting speaker and talking point to boot.

To which on this day I take my hat off and say if that I hope in 30years time I’m as well rounded and respected as you are, if nothing else the bus pass will deffinately help!