Baby Boom Birthday

The end of the Second World War brought the “baby boom“ which included my dear hubby. Roger Edward Cawdron born 25th Feb 1945. He often tells me part of Norwich was bombed that day but they narrowly missed the nursing home where he was born. Today he wakes very early like a child at Christmas. Poking me and asking if it’s too early for tea, it’s not even daylight. I snooze until 6.45 then give in and agree. While he is making the tea I empty my post bag of the family cards brought with me from the uk. The cards include one from Judy who posted it under the door at some silly hour due to being an insomniac …. I try Wordle which is ridiculously hard after my amazing success yesterday and I give up! We enjoy a leisurely cuppa in our luxurious bed, I am not keen to leave it today. DT has gone off to the daily Physio. The sun is out so we open the French windows and enjoy the warm air. Judy is at the other end of the house. Her room opens up on to the pool area. Next to her room is the wet bar. A fully functioning kitchen with coffee maker etc so we can help ourselves without waking the whole household. Rita appears from her suite looking her usual dazzling picture of health so I decide I must sort my grey roots and apply this hair dye. Rita obliges with an old towel that I can use in case of spills. It is not necessarily an old towel in my sense but at least it is not the beautiful pristine white ones given to us on arrival. Either way I apply said hair dye, trying to establish the Portuguese instructions. As Judy remarked, when you buy products in the uk they always contain many different languages. Not in this case, it’s all Portuguese! I guestimate it all and whilst the dye is working DT returns and serves Buck’s Fizz for Rogers birthday . Rogers wonderful chocolate birthday cake made by Rita’s fair hands is on full display, I feel I could dive straight in but Rita hands out lush freshly cooked crispy bacon & egg crusty rolls. After I finish my hair and finish my fizog. DT calls an Uber and we trot off into Lagos for the day. It’s a sunny day, around a comfortable 18c, a bit cloudy here and there. The driver drops us at the bus station. This has historic connotations for my family. In the early 1980’s when we visited there were not any restaurants as such but we found a canteen in the bus station. Our son a James probably aged 10 or 11 at the time ordered a soup from the menu. It was pure garlic with a poached egg floating in it. He ate the lot. He never did have a problem with strange food but we never forgot it and too this day often recollect the occasion. We walked along the front opposite the marina. It was far larger than I remember. We did stay here on our friends boat in a few years ago. I texted him to see if he was in residence but alas he is living in Guernsey and not available. No chance of a day at sea then! We pass a rather attractive woman’s wear shop, the boys leave us to peruse and find a bar. Judy purchases a rather lovely shirt dress top for a mere €18. We then catch up with the boys who are in a bar on the top of the fish market with amazing views of the marina. Phew 150 steps later we join them. After a vino or two we move on to the old town. We wander around the cobold streets and remaking how quiet it is. Still fabulous but it’s a pity tourism still has a long way to go to return to post covid. DT wants us to dine in the Canteena on the front. He has been a couple of times recently, lately with Nick D’Eath when he visited them. It’s nothing from the outside but inside it’s packed. Roger counts 120 covers and every seat is full. We have a fabulous meal of sardines, chips and salad washed down with lots of wine Roger pays the bill as it’s his birthday and we leave to walk towards the marina. We look for our friend’s boat and on the way we have a little drinkies. The bars on the marina seem much busier than in town. Both our children facetime their father for a birthday chat. James is in Florida with his family enjoying sun & golf no doubt. Joolia is at home with Snowy the husky pup – her new love. Both granddaughters send messages along with many friends. He is a lucky boy. We leave the bar and wander along the rest of the marina and find our friends boat. It’s in pride of place in a top spot by the best bars & restaurants. We all discuss the amount of mooring fees it must cost. We stop and take photos. Whilst we wait for an Uber to take us home we stop at yet another bar. Roger is desperate for a pee and most anxious that the loo seem engaged for a long time. He does a little dance and pretends to bang on the door. I suggest that he try the door handle again harder but before he can do that Rita gives him a hand & finds the door opens easily only to find it engaged. We all laugh hysterically…… as the man re enters the restaurant we try and stifle our amusement which makes thing worse. Back at Chateau Turnbull we settle down in our comfy clothes, eat some of Rita’s birthday cake and watch Tv for the rest of the evening. Well some of us did. The boys both doze. Thank you to all for a fabulous day.