Colin's 40th Birthday Celebrations, 27-29 August 2004.

Celebrations started on the evening of the 27th after Colin had collected David and Tara from
Newcastle airport when we enjoyed a buffet supper set out here at Carolyn and Paul's home in Wynyard.

After supper Colin did the honours with his birthday cake accompanied by a glass of champagne.

The main event took place at "The County" restaurant in Aycliff village the following evening.
This was the restaurant where Tony Blair entertained Jacques Chirac on a recent visit.

Colin and Sheena chat while we discuss the menu choices. Sheena has already started on the bread rolls!

Next to the "birthday boy" we have ecstatic Tara and David, recently engaged.

Next to Sheena we have Sarah, keeping a beady eye on her parents,
and a very happy Steven who had just passed all his GCSE exams.

Now we return to David and Tara intent on studying the menu.

After a very enjoyable meal we returned to Colins and arranged to meet again at his house
on the following day for a bbq before Tara and David flew back to Brussels. Here his garden.....

....bisected by this stream which Colin built last year and is now almost completed.

After Colin (and yours truly) had finished cooking he could join Sheena and Carolyn
who on the right are enjoying some private joke.

Here after the repaste are Sarah, Steven, Paul and in the shadows, Tara....

....now joined by David. All-in-all a very enjoyable family weekend.