Happy Birthday Frances..............

[J.R.]

Hope you have a great day.

Somewhat surprised your Hertford colleagues didn't post first !

[anniexf]

MANY HAPPY RETURNS, FRANCES!!!

Are you back in Blighty yet? Wherever you may be ....

HAVE A GOOD ONE!!!



(I'm still older than you )

[englishangel]

Happy Birthday Frances.

(This Hertford colleague has only just logged on for the first time today.)

[lonelymom]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Hope you've had a lovely day

[midget]

Happy Birthday. I hope today was a good one.

[mvgrogan]

Happy Birthday Mummy!

in keeping with family tradition (see my b-day in November) I didn't get her a card BUT Hanna & Xander presented homemade cards from us all along with balloons. We spent the afternoon at the Handicraft Museum (where there are exhibits to make her feel young ) followed by a nice meal in a steak house....

Now home to book flights & "get packing" before the next wave of volcano ash hits!

Hope you had a good day.

[Katharine]

Happy Birthday Frances - I am possibly the only person to here to have wished you that while you were at school!

Did all houses have the tradition of putting cards on the mantelpiece where they could stay for a week?

[lonelymom]

Happy Birthday Mummy!

in keeping with family tradition (see my b-day in November) I didn't get her a card BUT Hanna & Xander presented homemade cards from us all along with balloons. We spent the afternoon at the Handicraft Museum (where there are exhibits to make her feel young ) followed by a nice meal in a steak house....

Now home to book flights & "get packing" before the next wave of volcano ash hits!

Hope you had a good day.

[Jo]

Phew, just made it, I think......many happy returns Frances!!!

[Fjgrogan]

Thank you to everyone for your good wishes. As Maria said above, we visited the Handicraft Museum, which is housed in a 'village' of the original buildings which survived the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, each cottage being furnished as an artisan's home or workshop. It was very interesting, but sadly this early in the season many of the cottages were not yet open. I understand that later in the season there are often people actually weaving, printing, potting etc. Also the shop was not yet open and I had hoped to treat myself to something nice as a birthday present (I am a weaver, so possibly something handwoven?). Anyway, we then went for a meal at a nice steak house, which was an interesting experience with two small children - one an over-excited 4 year old! Then back here for cake, candles, balloons etc. Hanna and her Daddy are leaving very early tomorrow morning to visit her other grandparents for a few days, so they needed to pack this evening - not easy to calm her down enough to pack, but eventually she suddenly fell asleep, and it became peaceful enough to book my flight online. I finally fly home on Thursday, in time to register my vote, and in time to avoid celebrating another Mother's Day, which happens here this weekend - I'm not sure I could stand the excitement of two celebrations in one week!! So in the last five weeks I have been to Helsinki, Karjaa and Ruissalo (seaside), learned to bake pulla (traditional yeast buns with cardamom), and read twice in church - doesn't sound like a lot but I am exhausted and need to get back to my own bed - I have been sleeping on the sofabed in the living room, so late to bed (because Maria does all her computer work late at night) and then up early when the children wake up, so I am really looking forward to lots of sleep, especially now that I am a whole year older!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

A belated but nevertheless, sincere, Happy Birthday ,Frances !
I appreciate the home-made cards more than the others, especially when they were coloured "Scribbles" !

Belated --- but then I am older than ALL of you !!!

[Fjgrogan]

I had to chuckle this morning. Hanna (aged 4) had ordered me yesterday to wear her Snow White 'Princess' crown, while we were partaking of cake, balloons etc. This morning very early (about 5.30 am!) as we were getting her ready to go to her other grandparents she spotted her crown lying on the coffee table. She grabbed hold of it, fixed me with a withering glare and announced 'It is not your birthday today!' and stuffed the crown into her wheelie case!

[Mid A 15]

Sorry I mised it Frances.

I hope you had a good one.