Ben sent these. We reckon from around 1997 near Loch Awe? Possibly Ben Cruachan? Not entirely sure. It's Mr. B's squeeze of the time Cathy (or Kithy as we called her as she was from down under to the right.) 

The fourth pot with Henke Håkansson, Maria, and 2 Danes. Rob compering with panache and me, the manager, on crowd control and comedian calming/boosting. It's a good setup. Get there around 7, polish off a beer or two (free coz I'm with the Pot) sort the room, chat with the comics and doll out the tickets. Then sit and enjoy. 
It's a good room, shame about the noise coming in from the rest of the bar buuut thats all part of it. Then after fix back sit and chat a while. Nice!
Rob compering.

And down to the sea with the terrifying two. I am the monster trying to eat them at the bottom of the ladder. Then we sword fight with sticks a while until Stella arrives with Malaika. Sandra and her pal Emma not far behind.

Celebrations at Lugnadal! Bubbly on arrival. It felt almost christmassy, festive and cosy with prezzie opening and good food.  I gave Sandra some perfume from YSL called Black Opium. Smellls goood. And also some lovely liquid soap with the whiff of patchouli and bergamont. Mmmm. They had it at Bastard when we were there celebrating our 10th anniversary.
We ate a splendid rich and creamy pulled pork stew with some fine wine from the Danish Netto (where you can buy plonk, unlike in  Sweden.) And a loverly apple pie.
Played Codemanes in the evening. Great game. You guess which codenames, in a set of 25, are related to each other with a hint word.

Found this illustrator John Vernon Lord, fantastic stuff. This is from Finnigans wake. He's also illustrated Lears Nonsense and Ulysses.
From the sublime to street, also like this new graffiti tag, havent seen it before. The pumpkin i carved looked a bit like this.

Stella had her first Kempo lesson. She wrestled a black belt and cousin Malaika. And then Sandra came and stomped all over her! She seemed to like it, I really hope she continues coz its good in so many ways. Social, strength, self confidence, body awareness etc.

47 big fat years. Crept out of the house early so the Vass celebrations began when i picked up the kiddlepots. Hanna was secretive about what she put in the boot. Stella was holding something behind her back and the twins were blatantly waving something laminated.

Secrets abounded and I had one too, closely guarded from Sandra.
I had secretly researched and purchased a delicate, (ethical!) silver ring sourced from Texas in the big ol' US of A and also four roses for my 4 bearers.  Today we celebrated 10 years together. We have talked about a wedding before in the heady hormonal sleep deprived rush of the twins arrival but never quite made the whole arranging it thing. This time we'll take it slower, get the bit of paper first and see about the rest later.
They have drop in weddings at the the cathedral in Lund. I fancy that.
​After dinner on a nod from me the kids disappeared into the other room and shut the door. Muffled sounds, possibly instructions..Sandra was obviously curious. They came out with a rose apiece and i started my brief but exquisite proposal. Quoted a Bruce song! "If I should fall behind". Down on one knee, slipped on the ring, got the Yes. Phew.

​So back to the birthday, I got a very nice glass and cactus from Hanna, some fine drawings from Stella. The twins had made fathers day ties that were laminated and wearable. Excellent! I think its the first time i've got an actual prezzie from a spawn and it was very touching.
It was a fine birthday, Sandra got me a fiery Ileach whisky to be nursed through the long dark winter. And we sampled some splendid cheeses from Lunds Saluhall. 

Astrid looking very happy with her new overall. About to walk along the mill stream and climb over four bridges.