“Smug Git”

We were engaged in a quiet morning opening presents and cards.

Just before lunch I enjoyed a FaceTime chat with Sam, Holly, Malachi and Orlaigh who sang “Happy Birthday”. Poppy joined in, but as she had not had the experience before she was a little bewildered; and it is a long way to Australia.

In fact, Western Australia is a very large area itself.

Later they sent me these photographs taken on their 15 hour drive from Fremantle to the north of the state where they are spending a holiday in warmer temperatures.

Over lunch we got into little ditties and unusual words that Poppy could happily recite. This prompted me to test her with one and to tell the story of a London bus journey about twenty years ago. I became aware of a conversation between a man and his grandson who were trying to spell an unusual word. I took out a pen and wrote it on my bus ticket which I quietly handed over. “Smug git”, said the gentleman as he read ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’. https://youtu.be/1Pu1adxqUAg

Just before Mat and Poppy returned home, Shelly and Ron arrived, bringing presents and a card. This was a happy coincidence because they are also Poppy’s Grauntie and Gruncle.

Later, I finished reading

being the second novel in the saga of the Larkins, introduced in “A Freak Of Fate

Bates, in his enviably inimitable fashion, has his outrageous family convince at least one Frenchwoman that she should never again say ‘that the English were frigid and reticent or restrained or that they took their pleasures sadly or that fog perpetually covered their land.’

Early this evening Louisa, Jessica and Imogen rang to wish me a happy birthday. The girls usually sing one rude version or another. This time they didn’t. They must be growing up.

This evening, Elizabeth joined us for a meal at Faros Greek restaurant in Milford on Sea. Service and food was as good as ever.

Jackie’s moussaka was delectable; and Elizabeth enjoyed her marinaded chicken.

There are three ingredients that would make me hesitate to order a meal: ouzo, pasta, and cheese topping. I was felling adventurous when I chose this tender lamb stew which contained all three. It was delicious, and accompanied by plentiful fresh salad. I drank Harmony red Avantis Estate wine and the ladies chose Mythos beer.

Jackie’s dessert was chocolate brownie with ice cream; mine was baklava, and Elizabeth’s Greek yoghurt with walnuts.

I recounted the supercalifragilistic story for Elizabeth’s benefit. She responded with “citsiligarfilacrepus”.

103 comments

  1. How wonderful that you were able to celebrate so well, Derrick. Happy Birthday! ‘Grauntie’ and ‘Gruncle’ tickled me, as I’ve not heard those terms before. And I learned a new word: ‘git.’ I’ve always regarded that as a verb (“Git along, little doggies”) but I see it can be a noun, too!

  2. Happy Birthday, Derrick! It sounds like you had a pleasant day with many birthday wishes and a delicious dinner. (I was surprised to learn you’d hesitate at ordering anything. I’m glad your sense of adventure won.) šŸ™‚

    1. We had a Greek themed meal once which put me on a baklava kick. I had to stop making it, though. I couldn’t leave it alone. Honey, walnuts, and pastry, right? None of those things tempt me – but that combination was lethal.

      1. Derrick – when you say Ouzo – you mean that licorice drink? If so, you are right. You were very brave to pick that combination of ingredients. ** shivers **

        1. Yes, Jodie, that is what it was – but so well was it blended that there was no trace of its ‘orrible (no, WP, not horrible – this is in the vernacular) taste.

  3. Happy birthday, Derrick. My first boyfriend out of high school was British. He was NOT frigid. šŸ˜‰ Maybe its because his mother was a Newfoundlander.

  4. Happy birthday, Derrick! Belated no doubt at this point. It sounds like a lovely day with many greetings and another good meal. Lamb stew. Yum.

  5. A day belated Happy Birthday, dear Sir! ? Sounds like it was well spent. šŸ™‚

    My home state is indeed a rather large place – i suspect Sam and Co’s trip merely made it ‘half way’!! (Possibly to the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef?) For all it’s size, we still have about a fifth of the population of Greater London in total living here!

    I would say that Elizabeth was being a ‘tig gums’. šŸ˜‰

    Here’s to many more Happy Birthdays yet to come.

  6. I am glad you had a scintillating Birthday, Derrick. Here is wishing you many, many more! As for the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious episode, I can’t stop marvelling at your memory chips! Photographs from Western Australia are are spectacular.

  7. YAY! Happy Birthday!!! šŸ˜€ Looks and sounds like a Hap Hap Happy Birthday, Derrick!!! šŸ™‚
    Love the photo of the kids with the setting sun! šŸ™‚
    Love what Bates said to The Frenchwoman! šŸ˜‰ šŸ˜€
    Rude versions of the birthday song! I love that! Maybe they’ll sing those next year! šŸ˜‰
    Birthday-HUGS!!! šŸ˜€

          1. If you want to copy it, just right click and when the menu comes up, click ‘save this image’ – or do you mean it’s making you dizzy?

  8. Sounds like a wonderful birthday! I don’t like drinking ouzo, but did love using it in cooking several lamb-based dishes in the past. Now that I no longer eat meat, your post has prompted me to look for vegetable dishes using ouzo, as well!

  9. What a wonderful birthday! The food looks delicious. I, too, would be reluctant to order a dish with ouzo. Also, thought you might like to know that I am reading “A Month in the Country” and like it very much. Vivid characters and wonderful description of place. I’m about halfway though. In doing a bit of research about the book and J.L. Carr, I noticed a movie had been made of the book. Have you seen it? Just requested it through interlibrary loan. After all, it features Colin Firth, the ultimate Mr. Darcy and the heartthrob of women my age. šŸ˜‰

  10. Happy Birthday Derrick. I would wish for you to have a fine day, but as I see, you already enjoyed a great day. So I will wish for you to enjoy many more yet to come.

  11. Sorry I missed your birthday this year! Happy belated one,
    Love from
    Jessie, Poppy and Peanut xxx

  12. Sounds like a wonderful birthday filled with people who love you. I had to look up “smug git.” Hilarious – that’s a wonderful story. Brilliant of Elizabeth to be able to say it backwards. That speaks volumes for her character, as far as I am concerned.

  13. A belated ‘happy birthday’ from me, Derrick. Apologies for the absence of comments but we are away from home with intermittent wifi. I have thoroughly enjoyed all your posts and photographs and will try to make specific comments on our return home. ????

  14. I actually have your birthday written on my calendar so I would remember to say something, but of course you posted about it because of course your family celebrated with you even though you’re a smug git. Thank you for the photos of the food, which all looks positively sumptuous. It sounds like you celebrated well, were much loved, and should anticipate another good year.

Leave a Reply