I must get to the computer more often.  Although in fairness I have been attacking the accounts this week. 

I didn’t mention in last week’s blog that, as a family, we went out for a meal to celebrate my sister’s birthday.  This is something we haven’t done for years due to her not living in the same country as us!  She doesn’t like celebrating birthdays as she’s always felt disappointed by them, which to me seems such a shame and something that I hadn’t realised.

Her friend, who is also over here at the moment, joined us for the meal, which made for a very warm, comfortable and lovely evening.

We decorated the table with balloons, presents and posters and then much to my sisters embarassment (not ours of course) the staff bought out a cake and sang Happy Birthday to her. 

She did look daggers at me but I think secretly she enjoyed it (and to be honest I didn’t much care as it was about all of us celebrating her birthday - am I a mean sister or what?).

We left them all at the end of the evening with, for me, a tear in my eye.  My sister and her daughter plus her friend and son were all going off to Europe for a mini holiday. 

It was as we were leaving that I realised that the last time I had seen my sister’s friend had been 19 years ago and yet it felt as though I’d only seen her last week.

It was quite a smack in the face to think that so many years had passed and it left me feeling quite emotional.

It must have been that kind of week really. 

I had a text from one of my very good friends reminding me that it had been six weeks since we’d seen each other.  Although we send little emails and she’s never far from my thoughts I was staggered.  We immediately rectified that and she came over Thursday night for a hug and chat. 

We sat talking for nearly 4 hours!

And finally on the catching up front.  We heard from an old family friend that we haven’t seen for well over 10 years.  We normally send Christmas cards (mom and I) but he always gave excuses for not coming to see us. 

He used to be best friends with my dad and another chap Ken.  They were the Three Musketeers.   Sadly my dad passed away 13 years ago and Ken not long after.  I think that the reason for him not coming to see us that we may have been a painful reminder for him.

Anyway I did no more that contacted his wife and invited them to come over in a couple of weeks time.  This means that he can see the whole family including my sister and her daughter.  I am pleased to say that she was delighted to receive the invitation and I’m really excited by it.

It will be interesting to see what their reaction will be when they see my eldest son, as he has similar looks to my own dad.

So all in all a good week on the social front.