Jackies Life: 50th Birthday Celebrations

Friday 5th October
My Birthday weekend started on Friday afternoon for me - but for Sam and the others involved with the planning it must have started long ago! I went to work as usual on Friday morning - Sam had 'things to do'!
Once home from work I packed for us both and we left at about 3.30. The drive was not very long - about 45 minutes, and after some directions by phone from Charlotte we arrived here!

The beautiful Tempsford Mill

Tempsford Mill is a beautiful house with nine bedrooms - which by Saturday were all filled with family.

Charlotte, Ian and Mum and Dad were at the Mill when we arrived. Charlotte had decorated with balloons and banners! Mum was organizing coffee and snacks for everyone. Mum and Charlotte were keen to show us round this amazing house!

Sam and I are sleeping in the master bedroom - which is huge and has great views from all sides.

Sam and Charlotte sort out the sleeping arrangements for those staying over - a bit complicated as some people are staying two nights and some just Saturday night.

Sam collects Pip and Liam from Sandy station - they are staying for the whole weekend too.

Jayne, Simon and the boys are next to arrive - Jayne really enjoyed looking round the house! Shaun does some fishing with Ian and Liam and Simon and Steven play some pool.

The dogs have fun exploring - Pixel loves playing with Snoop!

Everyone sorts themselves out for the evening meal - we have a lovely curry, Mum and Dad have pizza and salad and Jayne, Simon and the boys have fish and chips. After dinner Simon sets off home as he has to work tomorrow - but he will be back once he has finished.
We had a few drinks during the evening and played cards before turning in for the night. Charlotte and Ian were last to bed - they watched tv using the projector on the big screen.

Saturday 6th October
The weather was beautiful today - sunny and warm with blue skies. Ian, Liam and Shaun take out one of the boats and paddle off to explore. Later Jayne, Charlotte and Steven take out one too. They meet up and go off to explore under the bridge on the other side of the road.

People amuse themselves during the afternoon with various activities - pool, table tennis, fishing, more boating and exploring the grounds. Some other guests arrive - Sally, Michael, Lauren, Louise and Andy. Sadly Claire and Stu can't come as Claire has a bad cold.
The caterers arrive at around 4.30 ready to prepare the evening meal. Mum and Dad go home for a short while and Charlotte goes off to 'feed her bunnies' - well really to collect Robin from the airport - the biggest surprise of the day!

The caterers set the table - there were twenty of us eating. We had starters on the table followed by a carvery and fruit and a choice of three Birthday cakes for pudding - Charlotte had a piece of each! The food was delicious - with vegan choices for pip and Liam too.

After dinner and coffee we had a few games of 'hide and seek followed by some of us participating in the great pub quiz - Liam and Mum won!
Darts and table tennis contests followed - and we ended up going to bed around two am.