...feasting but Ken's Aunt Win was ill after we left. She has been up-and-down this year but usually up. Boxing Day spent feasting with Richard.

Celebrations, largly in the form of holidays (see Traveller's Tales) went on all Summer but the big day itself, Avis' 70th birtday, was a boat trip aboard the "Spirit of London" on the Thames. 54 of our friends 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.

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.