Celebrating 60

What can I say ?

Celebrating 60 has been pretty good so far, and it is another 5 days before my actual birthday.

By last Friday I had received a number of interesting gifts:

from the staff at Overgate !

from Treena

from Annie

Saturday started with  a bit of a surprise, being told that I would not be working in the shop on my birthday next week, as I would be in Berlin, courtesy of Mark ( who has sorted out the rather magnificent looking hotel, opposite the Brandenburg Gates, and Jess and Matty who have organised the flights ). I suspect there will be a blog from Berlin !

Next, Jess and I went to get our hair done....and considering I had no hair at all just a little while ago, I was quite amazed when my hairdresser ( another Mark....Mark Riley, in Huddersfield) told me he was going to put my hair up...surely it wasn't long enough. Apparently it was.

Jess and I , leaving the hairdressers, with our "up dos"

After much fiddling around with photos for the walls, and feather arranging for the table centres, we set off, and then got the room at the hotel ready.

The staff at the hotel were great, and Jess, Matty, Mark, Jan and I soon had the room looking as we wanted it.

Jess created a time line of my hair styles, from 1957..aged 2, until 2015.

So, we got ready.....and then it all began.

Wonderful live music from Georgia Harrup, who was part of "Team Tom" in last season's "The Voice".

Incredible cake by Rachel Mary Shaw,www.maryshawsbakery.co.uk,

Rachel Mary Shaw and Josh....cake makers 

Lots of family, friends from way way back, neighbours, and friends from each stage of my various careers ! ( Teaching, Education Administration, Nursing and from the Overgate Hospice shop )

with Lesley and Martine,  who I worked with on the gynaey ward in Halifax

with Izzie and Liam, just before things got going

Clark, clearly recognising that the prosecco was not real champagne.

Another of Jessie's ideas...fun with a frame.... ( Carole with Liam and Izzie)

Mark, toasting me.....and mentioning the wonderful NHS  and the blogging community who have been such a support to me during the last couple of years. ( I should have toasted him, for being such an amazing support aswell ! )

I particularly asked for no gifts, but suggested people might like to donate to the Hospice instead. The collection buckets contained £500 by the end of the evening. I was thrilled with people's generosity.

...and I think, a good night was had by all.

I cant quite work out what is happening with arms in this photo of Jess.

Janice and nurses

Janice with oldest friends....started school with Jan in 1959, Graham...first serious boyfriend from 1970

Treena from Overgate, me and Martine...crazy nurse.

with Jess.....and Matt, and Melody in the red trousers just on the edge of the picture.....my first house mate when I began teaching all those years ago.

and finally......Mark and I, dancing the night away.