Jonathan’s birthday lunch

Chronology

Sunday 10th February 2013

This afternoon our sons Marc & James kindly invited Gina & I out to lunch, the reason being my birthday this week – still only 39!!!



We had a really nice time, at one of our favourite restaurants in Hatch End, not too far from our home. The weather may have been rainy & downcast, but our spirits were certainly not !

 Many thanks ! 

Scott’s 14th birthday party

Chronology

Sunday 27th January 2013

This afternoon we invited Simon, Scott & Alex over for a belated birthday party for Scott, which we had to postpone earlier in the month due to Alex’s illness at that time.



Here is Scott learning how to play some new tunes on his electric guitar (from a previous birthday), via an electric games software plugged into his games box, that we gave him for his present.

Visit to theatre

Chronology

Friday 28th December 2012

This evening we went to see the theatre show of “Yes, Prime Minister”, which was showing, by a remarkable coincidence, just a short distance from Downing Street. We enjoyed a pre-show meal nearby, and had a really great time. 


Lunch in Paris

Chronology

Tuesday 11th December 2012

Today I was invited along for a very special retirement lunch, for the managing director of Saniflo Limited, Paul Newson.

After being flown out in a 7 seater Citation XL executive jet from Northolt, London to Le Bourget, Paris, we were taken to our restaurant, La Tour D’Argent (silver tower). This majestic view of Notre Dame by the River Seine, was taken from behind my seat.

We were the guests of the owner of the SFA Group, M. Claude Perdriel (near-right), and their managing director, M. Arnaud Corbier (centre-left). Paul Newson (left) in conversation.

After a drive around central Paris, and a quick stop outside the Louvre,
it was then back to our plane for the flight home.


Family gathering

Chronology

Sunday 2nd December 2012

This afternoon we entertained my cousin Pamela and her husband Colin, who gave a very interesting talk on our family tree (our grandfather on mother’s side) to both us and my brother Simon and his sons, Scott & Alex.

 

We are all very grateful for all the work that she put into the presentation, making copies of photographs and other information.

Mini-cruise to Antwerp

Chronology

Saturday 25th to Tuesday 28th August 2012

We have just been on a mini-cruise for 3 nights to Antwerp, sailing on the Balmoral from Southampton.



We reached Antwerp just after 1.00pm the next day, and were lucky that the rain held off for most of the afternoon. In the main square (Grote Markt), there were many artists performing, in wide ranging forms of music and dance entertainment



They included a rock group, jazz band and violins, amongst others



Then we walked a small way into the centre to visit Rubens House, which housed a fantastic collection of “old masters” in the museum



We even had time to admire the rear garden area



It started to rain just as we left, but returned to our ship not too wet, and enjoyed a very nice “formal night” and show that evening

 

On Monday the sun finally came out, and stayed out. Although the ship had to leave Antwerp by 1.00pm, we had time to visit the “Steen” castle



And finally a walk around the marina, next to the maritime museum



And then it was time to depart back to England, sailing at first back up the River Sheldt and finally into the English Channel