Aperitifs in my first class cabin
Dad's birthday celebrations were no ordinary affair with 3 parties - 1 at Ridge and 2 in Holland Park. The first one was the family party in Ridge where it was wonderful for me to be able to catch up with all my family in one go. It started with Dad coming downstairs to find all of us wearing masks of his face - a little disconcerting but very funny! Mandy had themed the party around Dad's travels and we played a number of excellent travel-themed games. Given how competitive the Gidney's are this turned into a very rowdy event!
Me and Robert
4 cousins: Stephen, Alan, David, Mark
Birthday boy!
The second party was held on Dad's actual birthday and was a black tie event held at Holland Park. All the furniture was removed and the sitting room level was turned into a dining room for 36 people whilst the dining room was turned into a disco. There were a lot of friends of my fathers that I hadn't seen in a very long time and it was particularly lovely to catch up with my godfather, Tim Hall, and very old friends John and Jenny Proctor and Andrew and Liz Ransome.
A red carpet for the guests
Amazing flowers
Part of the table setting
The final party was held the following day and was a cocktail party for another group of friends. A lot of them were golf club buddies but there were also people who knew my dad when we lived in Singapore so they remembered me as a young child.
Mandy was very busy getting the house ready for the parties so Dad and I spent lots of time out and about in London. I had worked out a schedule of cultural events that I wanted to go to and Dad was very happy to tag along. We went to a lunch time recital at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the BP Portrait Exhibition and the Gauguin Portrait Exhibition at the National Gallery which was truly excellent. On Dad's actual birthday Robert met us in the City for a delicious lunch at Barrafina, a tapas style bar. Dad and I also spent a day doing a trip down memory lane visiting our old houses in Ealing and Chiswick and as many of my schools as we could find. Our house in Chiswick, 24 Speldhurst Road, had a For Sale sign outside so we were able to look at the interior online whilst having a delicious lunch at a small bistro in Chiswick.
We thought I looked a bit like this lady :)
Buckingham Palace
At the Opera House
Lunch with the birthday boy
After all the parties we retreated to Ridge where we collapsed for a couple of days although we did find the time to go and visit David and Ann's new house in Sherbourne which is absolutely lovely. As you can see I have very few photos of the London parties because carrying a phone around with me would not have looked quite right and I'm very sad to realise that I don't have a single party photo of Dad and Mandy - a pretty poor show on my part.
The final week was a chance for me to catch up with some old KPMG friends. I spent a day with Nancy (she worked at KPMG at the same time as me) walking from Greenwich to London Olympic Park along the Thames and all the canals in the East End of London. It was a part of London that I do not know at all and I was amazed at how lovely it is. There's something about being on or near the water that gives such a sense of space and peace. We had a delicious lunch of beer and pizza at Crate Brewery which is on a canal and it was warm enough to sit outside - so lovely and relaxing. Another day I spent in Wimbledon catching up with Nicola who I worked with at KPMG and who is Tom's godmother. It's been a very long time since we've seen each other but it was like we'd seen each other the day before and it was fantastic to catch up. We had lunch at Pizza Express so that I could tick that item off my list!
A view of the City
Me and Nancy
So many canal boats and people live in them permanently!
Crate Brewery
Autumn trees in London Olympic Park
Me and Nicola
Dad, Mandy and I went to the theatre twice which was a huge treat. The first time was to see Two Ladies, a play based on the first ladies of the French and US presidents. It was at the Bridge Theatre which is a new theatre to me just across the river from London Bridge. It's amazing to see how the areas by the river have been developed since we've been away and they are such lovely spaces with lots of outdoor green areas and bars/restaurants. The second play was called Translations held at the National Theatre, a more serious play but amazing acting and we had a fantastic dinner before hand.
I was very lucky to be able to help Andrew Watt celebrate his 50th whilst I was over. Kate, Andrew and I took Charlie for a walk in Richmond Park first and then went to the Harwood Arms for a fabulous lunch with some of their England-based friends and Andrew's brother.
Andrew and Kate looking the part in Richmond Park
It was a birthday themed trip because I headed up to Great Barford for my final weekend to help Rae celebrate her birthday. We had dinner at St Helena's on the Friday night, watched the Rugby World Cup quarter finals on Saturday morning and then had dinner at Santaniello's in the evening. Nate and Sarah came up for London and I finally got to meet Max who was just born last time we were over 3 years ago!
Great Barford Church where Jules and I got married
Anna and Alys
The birthday girl
John in his workshop - the ultimate man cave!
The kids with Sam's go-cart which recently came 2nd in a go-carting competition. He is already planning alterations for next year's competition!
Kristie and Andy
Sarah and Nate
Anna, me and Sam
Alys, Anna, John
John and Max
Max, Sarah, Kristie and Andy
Rae, me, Nate, Sam
Whilst I was away Jules and the kids were very busy. Tom and Jules headed up to Sawtell for the annual nipper camp - the last one Tom will do. Tom had the Foster nipper carnival over the weekend and then headed to Boomerang Beach for a week of surfing with 3 of his mates: Billy, Theo and Harry. This meant that Tess had 5 days looking after Ted at home. She was a bit nervous beforehand but also excited. When Jules phoned her after the first night to ask how she was getting on she replied "I'm thriving"!!!
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