The birthday bash was very successful with a nice turnout including my daughters, grandsons and great-grandsons all pitching.  The band of Mel, Alan, Steve and Brian delivered the goods and we were entertained with an interval set from Michelle Buckingham.This was just the beginning, and she was followed by Bonny and Carmen on vocals, Peter and T-bone on guitars, Phil on sax, plus Eddie, on harp and vocals, then Big Joe, with Brian and Laurie, doing their own little Bob’s Goodtime Blues revival set. A big thank you to everyone.

Chris Youlden was unable to make it because of illness. He has been through the mill this year, almost dying in hospital around Christmas last  from pneumonia complications, then having to have loads of fluid pumped from his lungs. This was followed by some deterioration in his bone structure around the legs. This has been dealt with now but will take some three months or so to heal. When I phoned he was having his regular visit from a nurse doing his leg ulcer dressing. I look forward to his improvement and a get-stogether for a beer and a proper catch up.