Today is my dad, Jack's (John) birthday! He has reached the ripe old age of 80!

Regular readers of the blog will know he is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, and his motto is "Look up, if you look down to your boots it'll think it can beat you!"

Last night he had a joint party with my brother Paul who was 40 last week. The function room at the local pub was so full the partygoers took over the pub too. A good night was had by all, my highlight of the night? My cousin Margaret singing "Penny Arcade" to my dad, as you see from the picture he's a keen singer too.

Sad tho, this was the first family "do" without Aunty Maureen, and the first one since my brother Kev and wife Siw emigrated to New Zealand. They emailed some fantastic poems to be read out on the evening and we raised a glass to absent friends

Dad was taken out for lunch by my sister today, and while out someone "trimmed up" the house with banners Tomorrow at 9am he reports in for chemo. Where is he tonight........in the pub with his mates!!

Happy Birthday Dad......You're a star!

Thanks to all my friends who posted messages of support. It helps

Lay on the floor...look at the stars......or the sun if it's out in your part of the world......listen to the words......take a deep breath and think of those you love.....wherever they are they are looking at the same sky......if passed to the other realm.....they're the brightest star!

I know this day is memorable for everyone, and since 9/11 a shine has been taken off my brother's brthday. But today, Wootty, my little bro is 40!!! He hates the picture below, because he looks drunk, good job I didn't use that one in my poster campaign

He's called to thank me for decorating his house, can't wait to see his face when her realises he's the star of the village

My first memory is of him being brought home from hospital, I was 4 years old, my sister asked if I wanted to hold him, which I did, until he moved! Scared me to death, I thought he was a doll

Happy Birthday Wootty!!

Sorry t'is late....been a tad busy

My birthanniversary started with a kiss at 4am when Lee came in from work. At 9:30am I got up as the phone had been ringing EVERY 5 minutes. Turned out to be a bloody loan company wanting to know if my son wanted a loan So much for signing up to NO marketing!!

I went to my mum's and cleaned her house, except the hoovering as I was knackered. They were due back from holiday today, and dad is due back in hospital on Monday so I wanted to take a bit of pressure off mum. 11am saw me picking up my mum in law for a trip to Morrisons, Lee's dad is suffering with arthritis in his back at the moment and she can't drive. I picked up mum's shopping while there. Lee called me while I was shopping to A) see where I was say he was up. I dropped Lee's mum off at home and went home.

Lee surprised me with some J Lo perfume, Nelly Futado's CD & some chocolates
We opened cards from each other, and found we had almost word for word written the same.

Lee made me a bacon sarnie and we departed for my mum's house. Me in the car with the shopping, Lee walking with his lawn mower. Lee cut the grass and I hoovered and put mum's shopping away.

We went home and "at last" I got to sit down, my sis in law and nephew came with flower, she carried, he couldn't (not cool for a 6 year old lad) Lee got ready for ork and we settled down to watch the match, Lee praying that he wouldn't get called out before the end. Matt came home, he had bought me a crystal ball, Abi got me a toblerone

At 6.30pm I got a text from a friend to ask if I wanted to got to church, I picked up my cousin and off we trotted. We got messages from two mediums, one from my aunt carrying a cake (no one at church knew it was my birthday) and my brother came through.

Lee and I are going for a meal on Monday, but my birthday meal today???

A Mc Donalds with my daughter.....can life get better?

Thanks to all your kind wishes, anyone wondering, I got married on my 29th Birthday, intending never to have birthdays, only anniversaries and stay 29 forever....didn't work

I met Lee in December, started seeing him in January, spent 1 night apart from then till he moved in with me in June and married in September. I'm not saying our marriage has been plain sailing but we're still together, Ami & Matt see him as their father, even though Ami was 8 and Matt was 5 when we met. But that's another story.....

Today my friends I am another year older, do I feel it? Hell no!

I am....wait for it.....44 today! Bloomin heck, horrid number isn't it! But that's how to look at it, a number. I have no grey hairs, thanks to my lovely daughter Ami paying for my new cut and hair dye yesterday. I have all my own teeth and not the least forgetful...........what was I saying?

I am blessed with 3 wonderful children, 2 beautiful grandchildren and am lucky enough to have both my parents with me on the earth plane.

Also 15 years ago today, at 1.30pm I married my soulmate Lee

Who could ask for more.

Sad news about the death of cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson, her bravery has always astounded me and my thoughts are with her husband and children.

I know from experience that to face cancer with a positive attitude certainly helps, but I was shocked to hear that Jane, was, at times accused of being a fraud.

Jane has raised millions despite doctors telling her in 2000 that she would only have six months to live.