August 13th 2005 - Avis' 70th birthday

Saturday 13th August 2005 Avis' 70th Birthday Boat Trip Day

We left at 1130 on the tube & found a small group already at the pier at 1210. Ken walked up to Charing Cross Pier to put up a notice saying that our party was at Westminster Pier, as Maryse had got them confused on the telephone this morning. Actually, nobody got it wrong & 54 turned up. We had food for 62, so there was some (but no pudding!) left, which the nice Czech maid Katya, doggy-bagged for us. In fact, she so enjoyed the trip that she had a look through the big photo album I had made of Avis. After the safety announcements, Avis made a brief speech on the tannoy to say what the party was all about & Ken told them to eat the food & that the bar was free. Not for us, it wasn't & it cost £284 in the end.

Avis makes her speech ©Edith Schablin 2005	Avis talking to Maryse Jones	Eileen Umbo, Martin & 'Olive' Page
Alan Molloy	Ken's cousin Margaret, Claire & Graham Chapman	Maryse Jones and April Gladstone
Rick Lewis & Anja Steinbauer	Sue LeCorre & Fiona Weir (serious chat)	Ken and Avis ©Edith Schablin 2005
Avis lights the cake	Ready to blow ©Edith Schablin 2005	Everyone seemed to have a good time. The kids, Pip & Freddie, used the boat as a big gym. The trip lasted from 1315 to 1605. They sailed up to Putney & turned back because of the retreating tide but went downstream to London Bridge before turning back to Westminster. The weather held up until 1530, when it rained but this stopped soon after we got home.

We had organised a tube party with us & a bus party for claustrophobics with Roberta. Actually, 25 people drifted into our house to see Avis blow out the candles on the cakes & quaff champagne (Bollinger until it ran out & then cava). Michey & Alan stayed on until nearly 9, which was good, as we have not seen them this year. Despite the security black-out, several presents arrived, all for Avis, so they got that right.