h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I really haven't been able to write for a few days now. More later, when it's all finished.

[They all serve who wait......on tables]

OK - so I've missed too many days now to be considered a serious contender for the NoJoPoMo championships. Never mind.

What have I been doing, I hear the crowds cry?

I had Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week, and Monday (today) off work. Far too busy to go to work!

Wednesday I spent cleaning, tidying, scrubbing. And shopping. In the evening my No. 2 son came, with his girlfriend. She is an absolute brick and helped no end, despite being 6 months pregnant.

On Thursday, the cleaning, tidying and scrubbing continued, and later in the afternoon, we were putting the final touches to the guest rooms - due to a shortage of beds and mattresses, we were trying to inflate a hitherto unused airbed for my sister to sleep on. Her flight was due in, and the ideal pump had still not been found, so I left them to it and drove to the airport to fetch her.

As arranged, we stopped in Karlsruhe on the way back to see the Degas exhibition, which was most instructive, but unfortunately there wasn't any form of guide in English - not even a flyer. Only French and German. (I've just discovered that there IS an English version on the web site. http://www.kunsthalle-karlsruhe.de/en/exhibitions/degas.html )



Son and girlfriend had cooked dinner while we were out and we came home to a laid table and roast turkey. They had cooked ALL the vegetables to go with it!!!



On Friday it was my birthday.

A big one.



There was still some final cleaning and preparation to do, as I had invited all my friends for a drink at 5 pm. This was so that no one had the excuse that they were already invited somewhere else, as I knew some of them were.

We had poached plaice and mashed potatoes for lunch, and whatever vegetables we could salvage from the night before (No 2 son had finished off the brussels sprouts, peas and chestnuts for breakfast).

Then we decorated the lounge, pushed all the furniture back, and my husband set up two tables out on the terrace. It was cold outside, but not unpleasant, and we had all the drinks out there for people to serve themselves. My "daughter-in-law" had baked a few pinwheels of flaky pastry rolled up with various fillings, we had other nibbly bits out and some guests brought bags of crisps and things.

About 40 people came and it worked out just right. No 1 son and wife and baby also came, which pleased everyone.



Starting early meant that everyone except family had gone by about 9.30 pm, and we cleared up and were sitting talking with a last drink when No 3 son finally arrived - he had a long journey from Berlin, and got in at about 10.30 pm.



On Saturday morning, we all traipsed off to the village where my daughter-in-law's parents live. This was little grandson Emil's day - his Christening.

There were about 30 in the church - including my daughter-in-law's choir (she walked over to join them when they sang)

The baby was brilliant - he was actually fast asleep a lot of the time - even when water was poured on him!

The highlight was the reading. There was no bible. The copy on the altar was apparently a rather unusual translation which the priest wasn't too happy with, and no one had one with them! Everyone was desperately trying to get a signal on their mobile phone (did I say this village was in the back of beyond?) - and eventually someone managed to get an online version on their iphone and Son No 2 (who was the godfather) read from that.

Afterwards we went into the village hall next door where some friends of the family had set up coffee, Sekt (German champagne) and bretzels. The baby was admired, fed and changed, and after tidying away the cups and glasses, we went to a restaurant where I had booked a table for lunch. This went on almost until the evening guests started to arrive. Some people had baked cakes and the restaurant let us eat those and they served us coffee to go with it.



On Sunday, the celebrating still wasn't over. To celebrate my birthday properly, and in style, I had again booked a table- this time just for the closest family - in a really nice restaurant, for the evening meal.



So today, Monday, I took my sister back to the airport and am now trying to catch up with everyone's journal and getting used to the idea that I have to go to work tomorrow.

I suppose I ought to be baking cakes to take into work, as well. (You're expected to do that on your birthday) I don't know if I can be bothered. Maybe tomorrow. Choir practice tonight and I won't be in before 9.



And that, dear reader, is why I haven't been online for a few days, let alone written any journals.

My car is also interested in art. It stop at
Degas station regularly.

[Amy P]

It sounds like a fabulous time was had. Happy belated birthday

Deb

also from me: happy belated birthday

Sounds like a good one!

That's a good enough set of excuses in my book. Many happy returns of all of it. I love the idea of getting on the mobile to find a suitable biblical translation.