Thuis short post is about a 60th birthday party we attended in February. An update concerning birding and ringing over this winter period will follow shortly.
I worked with Anne Bunn (right) for many years at the Microbiology Lab at Poole Hospital, here seen (at an earlier event) with Jessica Pietrangelo, another former colleague and wife of my friend Gio Pietrangelo. We have all stayed in touch since I retired and it was with pleasure that I received an invitation to he husband Chris’ surprise 60th birthday party held at the British Legion in Wimborne.
I’m not sure how much of a surprise it was to Chris but he certainly acted like it was!
The theme of the evening was ‘The Blues Brothers’, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s 1980 film about two brother’s who reform their rhythm and blues band to perform a ‘mission from God’. If anyone reading this hasn’t seen the film then it’s a wonderful mix of music, comedy and improbable car chases with musical interludes by Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Ray Charles to name but a few.
Many guests donned the black ties, black glasses and black hats of the titular characters. Here are three of my former colleagues, Ann (another one), Sheila and Janet …
…. and here are their husbands Ken, Mike and John (but not necessarily standing in the same order as their wives).
I think I made a better Jake than an Ellwood! A very drunk guy, not in our party, was propping up the bar and was on the phone to his mate. He said ‘I don’t know what’s going on tonight, they’re all wearing black suits and dark glasses – I think someone’s died!’
Margaret got into an improbable ‘police lineup’ – and no she’s not that tall!
My friend and former colleague Tim was there along with his ever cheerful son Simon.
Ann and her daughter Clemency had hired an excellent band, but unfortunately in a small room they were very loud and I had to communicate with friends by typing messages on my phone and passing it over to them. But it was an excellent night out and a chance to catch up with some old friends.
Other than that night out social events have been few and far between this year with just the odd pub get together, but there has been a fair bit of ringing and birding which will form the subject of the next post.
gryllosblog 
Aaah thank you Ian, it was so lovely catching up with the ‘retired rascals!’ Just so pleased that you all had a good time. X Super photos you all looked so cool! Xx. Sorry for being so happy in that photo!!!
As you were so busy with all your guests are paths hardly crossed on the night, so I had to chose a photo from the archive. It was a choice between that or the one of you at Lytchett Bay with bright yellow wellies!