Sitting here wondering if I'm Pollyanna or Eeyore - Day 284: Happy birthday Essie!

A rather belated 50th for Essie (she turned 50 last year) at a surprise party held in her honour by John S at the home they share and attended by her brothers (who she didn't know were coming either and who turned up that morning with no warning) with lots of her friends in attendance, great wines and cheeses to drink and eat and a lovely afternoon to enjoy it all in. Gorgeous day.

Sitting here wondering if I'm Pollyanna or Eeyore - Day 249: Lunch with Essie and friends

Lunch with Essie and kids, Fahmi and Stephen M and Essie's friends Gail and Kate and kids at Celini's. Food yummy and company wonderful.

And then after a nap and a quiet afternoon at Steve's, dinner out at Izote in Newtown, preceded by drinks at the Marly, with the gang to welcome Ingo back home ... fab night as always!

Mole Poblano aka chocolate chicken - YUM!!!

Sitting here wondering if I'm Pollyanna or Eeyore - Day 214: Happy birthday dinner babe!

Birthday dinner for Steve with Fahmi, Peter, Essie, Aidan, and me at Oldtown in Newtown.

Yummy food as always - even if portions smaller and place not as warm and cosy and friendly - followed by cake and coffee at Fahmis (where Stephen Moore joined us)

Drinks beforehand at Moose Bar at 7pm ...

Then to the restaurant for an 8.30pm sitting ...