Milestone

What's a birthday, huh? Just another day marking just another year. But anyway, I thought I'd make a bit of a thing about this one and follow my friend Tim's lead. Tim had a 'milestone' party earlier this year and asked for no presents but donations to a charity.

Here's Tim, shaking his fist at someone. He's from New Jersey, so we have to make excuses for him...

I thought I'd do the same - shake my fist at people and demand donations to a charity! And so lots of people came to my birthday party and stuffed 'folding donations' into collection boxes for the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign. That's my April charity, because the Royal Marsden has been so good treating my brother-in-law Barry.

Here's Barry with my sister Mary.

Barry's undergone intensive radiotherapy for 6 weeks, travelling up to London from Dorset for consultations and check-ups and fittings., as well as the actual treatment.

I bet we all know someone - or of someone - who has some form of cancer. The Royal Marsden has been brilliant to Barry and I'm sure they are just as brilliant with everyone they treat.

Now some pics of some of the 'party animals' - they were brilliant too with their contributions. I have no idea how much we collected but I shall let you know asap.

John, my back, Jeremy, (another)Mary, Jacky, Liz and Geoff's ear.

Big Glyn, who made sure everybody filled in a Gift Aid form. You wouldn't want to argue!

Geoff, me and Sue.

Duncan, Stephen and Tracy. Look in those eyes! The camera does not lie!

Ed's girlfriend Laura - pretty as a picture.

One person who didn't appear in the pics was my cameraman son Ed. He was brilliant too.

So I've taken a whole week off from work - amazing! But back to it now with a full week ahead of me. One guy's just phoned to book up all the Mondays in June! How's that for enthusiasm?