Happy birthday Old Bean

It was Johnny's 74th birthday yesterday (13th), celebrated quietly at the Brasserie.  Johnny never wants to be the centre of attention, but there are a lot of us who want to share a bit of the day with him!  I sidled into the Brasserie around 6.30 last night and the birthday group was outside - the first time we have sat outside (albeit with heavy duty clothing) this year.  Is Spring really here?

Anyway, you can't let the birthday, of a much loved friend pass without some kind of marker.  I was very chuffed with my present to him this year.  Johnny is an avid cricket fan - I think it is as close as he gets to a religion.  I went to my first cricket match ever, with the Midddleton family in August 2006, when we watched England play Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds.

It was a scorching hot day and after an a hour or so, I decided that a hat was the order of the day and duly purchased a white canvas 'flowerpot' - not my idea of a siren fashion statement, but it was the best on offer and in any case, I didn't care because my head was beginning to throb ominously.  I've never worn it since, but it did save the day.


The sun slipped down the sky and by four o'clock, I had slipped down my seat.  Some of the England team were at the rim of the pitch, giving autographs.  'There's Pieterson, ' Becky yelped, 'I'll go for his autograph!'  No one had any paper, but we did have a pen and I had a white hat.  So Becky dashed off with it and the hat was duly christened.  Anxious not to be outdone, I managed to get the autograph of Dickie Bird.

Then the hat was packed away and since then I've travelled quite a bit and never properly unpacked - until now (now that I am about to pack up again and move).  I've been wanting to give the hat to Johnny for ages, but I couldn't find it, so it seemed synchronistic when I unearthed it last week, just before the birthday.  To the hat, I added the Observers book of Cricket and Johnny was delighted.

He was also delighted with his hand embroidered handkerchiefs from Vicki, who rightly pointed out that not many men use cotton hankies any more.

Johnny takes ages to unwrap presents ....

This weekend, Johnny has some decisions to make with the London folk and the Exhibition is eleven weeks away.