part IV

We had arranged to visit Lenny on the Friday and we were soon on our way up the M40 and we arrived at Prestwood Nursing Home about mid-day. We spent a couple of hours with Lenny in her room, even having a cup of tea. Linda had been staying in an adjoining room for a couple of days, but had gone home before we arrived.
Lenny looked happy and spoke very well and we were very pleased to see how well she looked and we spent some time talking, before we had to leave. By 3.30 we were again on the M 40. and were back in Cowley just as it was getting dark. Steve had arrived back from Cornwall and we spent a pleasant evening together. Poor chap had to sleep on the settee.
Next morning we set out for Thame and renewed a few acquaintenances and at 2.30pm we went into St. Andrews’ Church in Chinnor, where a service of Birdie and Dave’s thanksgiving was held for 50 years of married life; at the same time they renewed their marriage vows. There were only about 40 near friends present and we all went down to the Reading Room, where a 50th Wedding Breakfast was held, with the lovely cake cut and shared round. We all dispersed about 4.30pm and thanks to our dear Steve, a room had been booked at the Spread Eagle Hotel (Thame’s major hotel). After a rest we dressed for the evening party at the hotel, as Birdie’s daughter Debra had, together with Dave, arranged a secret Wedding Banquet for 70 of their friends. Thinking that she and Dave were going to a distant hotel an hour’s drive away Birdie was so surprised to finally end at the ‘Spread’ to a great welcome. They are both so popular and we all sat down to dinner, having chosen the menu weeks before. We sat down with some good friends and had a super meal and after the speeches we were all up on the dance floor until midnight when we all dispersed, us to our room in the hotel. Thanks Steve.
Next day was again a time of meeting old friends and we spent a couple of hours with our old next door neighbours, Ken and Jean Mason with their visiting sons Paul and family and Neil who had dropped in to see their parents. We also visited Myra and John Bell and spent an hour reminiscing before returning to the “Spread” where Stephen and Gemma, together with Clive and Fay, joined us for dinner. A lovely weekend was had by all, as we had decided to extend our visit to the Spread. Next morning we breakfasted and started out for Stokenchurch to join the M40 for phase III of our holiday. I had decided to take my time and by 12 noon we were in East End Farm where we received the usual welcome from June and another from the motorcylists practising just over the hill at Brands Hatch, In the evening Robert and Sandy, Rebecca and Alan joined us for a lovely dinner, with plenty of food and wine. That was on Monday 20th March.