CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE. REPEAT IF REQUIRED.
The weight of traffic through Lyndhurst and on the A27 meant that the journey to Upper Dicker on the way to Poppy’s birthday celebration took 4 hours in contrast to the normal two and a half that the return trip occupied. Fortunately we left home early enough to spend the afternoon there.
When we arrived our granddaughter was occupied with coloured chalks drawing on the paving stones in the garden.
Jackie and I had brought her a couple of ballerina dresses. She liked them both,
but it was the deep red one that she proudly chose to wear on this occasion.
She is very fond of her food, and now needs little assistance, here rendered by Tess, to unwrap a biscuit. She thought her hat complemented that of her mother.
Plenty of balloons testified to the festive occasion.
Becky and Ian gave her a helium filled one that was a great hit. Tess inconspicuously prepared a splendid spread of grilled steaks and various tasty salads. Mat was in charge of beverages, and thought it a good wheeze to offer me a local beer named Old Man brewed by the Long Man Brewery. I enjoyed it.
Poppy’s aunt and uncle also gave her a suitably decorated mirror which she gave several nose prints.
Another of their presents was a battery-operated bubble machine.
She soon got the hang of operating this.
Soon, a sleep was in order, until
Tess’s delicious birthday cake was produced.
Although the birthday girl was persuaded to blow out one candle herself, she needed Ian’s assistance because she was far more interested in prising of the M & Ms and popping them into her mouth.
Matthew told us the story of the blue hat. He and Poppy had visited a charity shop in Emsworth with Becky a few days ago. Spotting the hat, Becky had placed it within Poppy’s line of sight. Her niece grabbed it and tottered off with it to the changing room, from which emanated “I like dat. I buy dat”. Out she came. Her Dad gave her the necessary dosh. Over to the counter she trotted, slapped the money on the wooden surface and said “I buy dat, lady”
Jackie and I needed no further food or drink, other than water, this evening.