Sunday August 15th 2021

 07:15 After an early breakfast we drive off to stay a couple of days with our elder daughter Ali, who lives in Headley, Hampshire with Ed and their 3 children, Josie (14), Rosalind (13) and Isaac (11). A scary journey for us, because we haven't done any journeys anywhere near as long as 100 miles since the lockdowns started in 2020.

Surprisingly we manage the journey without a break. When we arrive, Ali has just started a zoom call with Sarah, our other daughter who lives in Australia with Francis, and their 8-year-old twins Lily and Jessie. It's Ali's 46th birthday today.

By coincidence we bring Ali a letter addressed to her under her maiden name, that arrived at our house yesterday (she's been married for 21 years - my god!). It turns out to be a letter from Premium Bonds to say that Ali had won £25. Lois and I think it was one of the premium bonds that my mother (Ali's grandmother) bought for her when Ali was a fairly young child. Her patience is rewarded haha!!!

a zoom call with our other daughter Sarah, in Australia

Ed can't eat for 24 hours starting at midday today, because of a procedure he's having at the local hospital tomorrow, so we have a birthday brunch today - Ed won't be able to have lunch.

Poor Ed !!!!!!!

Ali's birthday brunch

It's Sunday today, so the builders who are renovating this crumbling Victorian mansion, aren't working today, so Ali gives us a tour of the parts of the house that are being "done over".

one of the many parts of the house that the builders are having a good go at

Next it's birthday present opening time. Practical presents are the order of the day. Lois and I were supposed to be giving Ali a tree of some sort, but it won't now be available till next year, so we're getting her a box to put wellington boots in when everybody comes in from the garden. Luckily we have an extra present we can hand over today, a unique bag designed by Lois's great-niece Molly.

our present to Ali, a unique tote-bag designed by 

Lois's great-niece Molly

some more strictly-practical presents

Next a piano recital by Josie.

Then a tour of the massive 6-acre garden. We see the spot where their huge fir tree was pulled down, after it was found to be in a dangerous condition. Yikes!!!!

the place where a proud fir tree once stood

Flashback to last month: the fir tree in happier times - before it was pulled down.

flashback to last month: the fir tree in happier times -

before it was felled

Poor fir tree !!!!!!

The tour continues.

an exhibition soccer display by 2 1-man football teams,

Rosalind and Isaac

some convenient outdoor bathing facilities

me with Alison

We some some garden maintenance work in progress.

Josie mows the extensive grass tennis-court

We try the shop-bought "Colin the Caterpillar" chocolate cake. It's the genuine Marks and Spencers version, not the Aldi copycat version, which is nice!

We sample the M&S "Colin the Caterpillar" cake

Yum yum !!!!!