A birthday party...

This evening I am going to a birthday party for a woman I have known since I was eight years old. She does yoga better than I do, and she's turning 91 today. Ninety-one! The woman's almost as old as Captain Jack!

So what do you give a woman of 91? She likes to read, but her eyesight isn't so good these days. maaboroshi suggests flowers. Sheila suggested baked goods. Beulah is giving her an audiobook - a mystery. Myself, I'm stumped. Have to think a little longer....

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Doctor Who: Utopia...

I watched yesterday's Doctor Who episode, "Utopia", when I got out of bed this morning, and then wandered around for a while in a happy fannish daze. I watched it again over brunch with maaseru (who had already heard the whole story from an English friend) and maaboroshi, who, to my delight, vocally appreciated the good bits.

( Aah, the good bits. )

Birthday barbecue...

A few weeks ago, Lisa's family bought a nice big picnic table for their back garden, so the birthday dinner for Lisa's mother was eaten there, and cooked by David on their barbecue grill. It was utterly delicious - especially the grilled mixed vegetables, though the pork kebabs were lovely too. Eight-year-old Eleanor made the chocolate cake for dessert - and she even invented the recipe. It contained several kinds of chocolate, but not much sugar, since Elizabeth is diabetic.

I think 91-year-old Elizabeth had a really good time. In the end, I gave her a music CD, "The Best of Bing Crosby". It's one I would have liked myself. We talked about travels, and yoga - Elizabeth, Lisa, Beulah and I all practise yoga, and Beulah is in the same yoga class as Elizabeth. Elizabeth asked what substance the Vedas would have been written on in the first place, and I wasn't sure of the answer. Does anyone here know? What did ancient Indians use to write on?