Louie's 60th Birthday Party

Hazel and I headed up to Brum yesterday for Louie's birthday party at Priory School, and to catch up with Fiona, Greg and Family. We took advantage of the mid-afternoon start to squeeze in a spot of shopping, once I'd recovered from the shock of the Bull Ring transformation - no more underpasses! a completely new route for the Queensway! No more market! Instead, the lovely new shiny shopping mall, containing some very swanky shops. There was an amazing number of shoppers about too - although H and I weren't amongst them.

At Priory School it was 6 hours of blasts from the past, with loads of Links Drive neighbours, more of whom have moved on the pastures new: The Balmers, The Blays, David Gill, Jayne Hanson, the Harmans, the Whites, the Albutts. The whole Kennedy clan was out in force, complete with 7 grandchildren, and the musical performances by Andrew's 2 eldest daughters (5 and 3) won the day - their violin renditions were better than anything heard at No 78 I reckon!

I got to drive back to London, and H and I made the mad dash onto the last tube from Ealing common, leaving dad and Jean to overnight wih Kate, and to spend the day at her graduation today.