Please join me in wishing Henry a very happy birthday on November 7th! Richard has been friends with Henry since 1973. HA! He's not quite sure. Henry, you will have to tell me if he has the correct year!
I always have told Henry that there is a bit of an air of royalty about him, what do you think?
"Henry, royal? Oh please!"
The King's Castle
The King In His Garden With Royal Dog and Crazy American Lady!
King Henry With his Queen, Sarah!
Henry's Parents, Joy & Henry Posing With Their Close Relative, Queen Elizabeth! See, I told you, ROYALTY!
Don't All Royal Gardens Have Some Topiary? I rest my case!
Of course, I have a song for you, Hen-er-y! It was written in 1911 but went to number one in 1965 by Herman's Hermits. Enjoy your birthday, we wish you happy returns of the day! xx
Thanks, Meike! And their house is BEAUTIFUL! I should have taken a photo of each and every room, I love the way it is decorated, perfectly to my taste! (Oh, and their living room would have been less cluttered if I had not left all my stuff on the sofa!)
I am pleased to say that Rick and I have been friends since a day in September 1972, very close to Rick's 17th birthday, when we found ourselves in the Lower Sixth Arts 1 of John Ruskin Grammar School in Croydon. Our form tutor was a hunchbacked Welshman known as 'Rhino' Rees who, courtesy of constant smoking, had just one lung yet lived well into his 90s. He taught Latin and every 20 minutes or so would nip into a small room 'to find a reference book'. He would emerge 5 minutes later coughing but without a book.
2 rather more famous alumni were Ralph Mc Tell the singer/songwriter - who I saw in concert just last week - and the current English football (soccer) manager.
Rick and I kept in touch after leaving school and it was soon noticeable that he was talking more and more about his American penfriend, Kay. In time, there were visits to the US and the rest is (wonderful) history. I can't remember, Kay, have you done a blog about how you married your penfriend and then your sister, Jan, married Rick's cousin? I know that it was featured at the time in one of your local papers - the Rockdale Gazette??
And may I say what a good choice Rick made and how pleased I am to see you, Christopher and Rick over here as 3 good friends. And don't forget that Chas and Dave are at the Albert in April.
And thanks to Librarian and Tracey for the kind comments. I tell people that one of the animals in the topiary is named after a Biblical character - because 'one eye's 'igher' than the other.
Happy Birthday, Henry! You have made me laugh writing here about your Latin teacher! So funny,nipping out to consult with a book (drink?)! How could he get away with it?! You are a sweetie to say that R. made a good choice in me! C. and I both think the world of you and C. also sends his best wishes for your special day! Chas & Dave in April, I hope that we can make it!!! Say hello to Sarah and to your lovely sweet Mum & Dad for us! (Oh, and Richard remembers the joke about "Isaiah", if that is the right spelling!) You say it differently in England than we do here, did you know that? So, the joke doesn't make any sense here! (Like Star Trek, how many ears does Captain Kirk have...three...left ear, right ear and the final Front EAR! HA! Only works in an English accent!)
You really are a prince of a fellow and that goes for all the guys in this post, that means Richard, and your Dad, and yes, even YOU, DAVE! (Make sure Dave sees this post, would you?!) ;-)
(And Sarah and your Mum, Joy- perfect princesses, of course!)
It was smoking, Kay, not drinking, that made the Latin teacher go "look for a reference book" every 20 minutes and come back with a cough, I guess :-)
Thanks to Henry, we now know that you were featured in the Rockdale Gazette! Please, tell us more - I am sure I'm not the only one who wants to know more.
Why, thank you but you know, royalty doesn't need freebies on their birthdays, they have things given to them all the time! (Hey folks, I know this is spam, but I couldn't resist.)
Thanks for your well wishes, Audrey! (This comment is from North Carolina!) "I'm Just A Singer In A Rock &Roll Band" by the Moody Blues...a huge hit in the USA in 1973!
Many thanks to all for the good wishes. I really, really didn't expect anything like this. Yes, 73 was a good year in many ways.
I forgot about the pronunciation of Isaiah. Am I right in thinking that you say 'A-zay-er'? Standards have slipped since we royals relinquished the colonies!
I like the Captain Kirk joke.
I will pass on your good wishes, Kay, and draw Dave's attention to this lovely blog.
Hey Henry! Very happy that you saw this on your birthday and that you enjoy the well wishes from everyone. Me thinks someone should start his very own blog? (Hint, hint!) There might be really nasty people who blog but they don't visit mine! All of my blogging friends are exactly that, FRIENDS! xx Thanks to everyone who left comments for Henry! :-D
Thanks so much for your comment! Henry, this crazy, funny lady is from Wisconsin and if you get the chance, click on her blog, she makes me laugh every day! xx
Thanks very much for your comment, Jenny! Henry, Jenny Woolf is the author of the book about Lewis Carroll that I wrote about in one of my posts! Read her book when you get the chance, you will love it! "The Mystery of Lewis Carroll"...there, read it! I will quiz you on it the next time I see you! I felt as if I had so much in common with Lewis Carroll, it must be because we are both GENIUSES! Yes, that's it, I'm sure of it! HA!
Happy birthday to Henry from north of Watford.Loved his story about the Latin teacher - ours used to constantly tell us off for not sitting up straight and would sneak up from behind and try to pull the pen out of our hand to show us we were holding the pen too tightly. There's clearly something not right about latin teachers! x
My thanks again to all, from so many different places, for making this such a special time. There is a real sense of community evident in this blog.
Latin teachers certainly were a breed apart. My other Latin master had one arm - he lost the other at Arnhem ( the bridge too far) - revelled in the name of 'Hooky' and insisted on ending any word that ended in s with about 6 ssssss. He often read the lesson in morning assembly and his pronunciation of 'Jesus lives' was truly unique.
You are right to add a warning about the Henrys, Kay. The last of that number, despite being seen as a comical sort of fellow - the many wives and the large girth- was utterly ruthless and not a patch on his often overlooked father.
Yes, tell us more about the Rockdale Gazette item Kay.
What I know about Lewis Carroll could be contained on the back of a postage stamp so I will have to explore.
Dec. 2011 and Feb. 2012...if you go back on my blog on those dates, you will see my two posts about the Lewis Carroll book. He spent so much time in Eastbourne and loved it! I am sure you must have known that about him!
Oh, and what about Henry VIII's son, the one who died at a very young age, am I remembering that he seemed to be a very good soul? Let me know if you get to read the book about Lewis Carroll, I thought it was fascinating. (The author found out a lot about him by examining his bank account, which she obtained just by asking for it!) Tickled that you liked this post, Henry. "Chuffed" is the word that you say, I think! :-) You know me, I get all these English words mixed up! Cheers!
I will certainly look at those blogs. No, I didn't have a clue about the Eastbourne connection.
Edward VI had a remarkable intellect. He was Protestant to the core so it is a matter of taste as to how the country would have fared under him rather than Mary 1 who was Catholic to the core. In these parts, it is best not to mention (Bloody Mary).
Good, I am glad that I was thinking correctly, and I thought his name was Edward, I just remember thinking how much I liked him and wondering what it would have been like had he lived.
Many happy returns to Henry!
ReplyDeleteThese are Royals after my own heart - one look at that beautiful, neat, uncluttered living room is enough.
Thanks, Meike! And their house is BEAUTIFUL! I should have taken a photo of each and every room, I love the way it is decorated, perfectly to my taste!
Delete(Oh, and their living room would have been less cluttered if I had not left all my stuff on the sofa!)
A very Happy Birthday to Henry. I love that topiary!
ReplyDeleteYes, Tracey, I knew you would love the topiary! ;-)
DeleteOh Kay! What can I say?
ReplyDeleteI didn't expect to wake up to anything like this.
I am pleased to say that Rick and I have been friends since a day in September 1972, very close to Rick's 17th birthday, when we found ourselves in the Lower Sixth Arts 1 of John Ruskin Grammar School in Croydon. Our form tutor was a hunchbacked Welshman known as 'Rhino' Rees who, courtesy of constant smoking, had just one lung yet lived well into his 90s. He taught Latin and every 20 minutes or so would nip into a small room 'to find a reference book'. He would emerge 5 minutes later coughing but without a book.
2 rather more famous alumni were Ralph Mc Tell the singer/songwriter - who I saw in concert just last week - and the current English football (soccer) manager.
Rick and I kept in touch after leaving school and it was soon noticeable that he was talking more and more about his American penfriend, Kay. In time, there were visits to the US and the rest is (wonderful) history. I can't remember, Kay, have you done a blog about how you married your penfriend and then your sister, Jan, married Rick's cousin? I know that it was featured at the time in one of your local papers - the Rockdale Gazette??
And may I say what a good choice Rick made and how pleased I am to see you, Christopher and Rick over here as 3 good friends. And don't forget that Chas and Dave are at the Albert in April.
And thanks to Librarian and Tracey for the kind comments. I tell people that one of the animals in the topiary is named after a Biblical character - because 'one eye's 'igher' than the other.
Kind Regards to all,
Henry
Happy Birthday, Henry!
DeleteYou have made me laugh writing here about your Latin teacher! So funny,nipping out to consult with a book (drink?)! How could he get away with it?!
You are a sweetie to say that R. made a good choice in me! C. and I both think the world of you and C. also sends his best wishes for your special day!
Chas & Dave in April, I hope that we can make it!!!
Say hello to Sarah and to your lovely sweet Mum & Dad for us!
(Oh, and Richard remembers the joke about "Isaiah", if that is the right spelling!) You say it differently in England than we do here, did you know that?
So, the joke doesn't make any sense here! (Like Star Trek, how many ears does Captain Kirk have...three...left ear, right ear and the final Front EAR! HA! Only works in an English accent!)
You really are a prince of a fellow and that goes for all the guys in this post, that means Richard, and your Dad, and yes, even YOU, DAVE!
(Make sure Dave sees this post, would you?!) ;-)
(And Sarah and your Mum, Joy- perfect princesses, of course!)
It was smoking, Kay, not drinking, that made the Latin teacher go "look for a reference book" every 20 minutes and come back with a cough, I guess :-)
DeleteThanks to Henry, we now know that you were featured in the Rockdale Gazette! Please, tell us more - I am sure I'm not the only one who wants to know more.
Happy Birthday to Henry! I love the topiary. They always amaze me.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your birthday wishes, very much appreciated!
DeleteHave a wonderful day! xx
Why, thank you but you know, royalty doesn't need freebies on their birthdays, they have things given to them all the time!
ReplyDelete(Hey folks, I know this is spam, but I couldn't resist.)
I'm convinced! Boot out those Windsors and install King Henry instead!
ReplyDeleteYou have to watch out for those King Henrys, you know! ;-)
Delete(Love your comment, Debra, thanks!)
Wishing you many happy returns of the day, Henry!
ReplyDeleteThanking you for Henry!
Delete(This one came from Louisiana, Henry! Debra in the last comment, is from Canada!)
Happy birthday, Henry. Aloha from Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteMahalo!
Happy Birthday to Richard's friend Henry ~ wishing you many more happy years!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet thing to do, Kay!
Take care!
Thanks, Louise! And I do count Henry as my friend too, but he was a good friend of Richard's first!
Delete(This comment is from Colorado, Henry!)
Happiest of Birthday Wishes, Henry! '73 was my birth year.....it was a good year, wasn't it? :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your well wishes, Audrey!
Delete(This comment is from North Carolina!)
"I'm Just A Singer In A Rock &Roll Band" by the Moody Blues...a huge hit in the USA in 1973!
Many thanks to all for the good wishes. I really, really didn't expect anything like this. Yes, 73 was a good year in many ways.
ReplyDeleteI forgot about the pronunciation of Isaiah. Am I right in thinking that you say 'A-zay-er'? Standards have slipped since we royals relinquished the colonies!
I like the Captain Kirk joke.
I will pass on your good wishes, Kay, and draw Dave's attention to this lovely blog.
Thanks again everyone.
Henry
Hey Henry!
DeleteVery happy that you saw this on your birthday and that you enjoy the well wishes from everyone. Me thinks someone should start his very own blog? (Hint, hint!)
There might be really nasty people who blog but they don't visit mine! All of my blogging friends are exactly that, FRIENDS! xx Thanks to everyone who left comments for Henry! :-D
I'm sold, Kay! Looks like royalty to me. Happy birthday to Henry!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martha!!
DeleteHenry, this comment is from a great blogger in Canada! xx
Happy, Happy Birthday, Henry-no matter HOW OLD you are! You look like Royalty to me! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment!
DeleteHenry, this crazy, funny lady is from Wisconsin and if you get the chance, click on her blog, she makes me laugh every day!
xx
Happy birthday Henry! And that topiary - wow! I would love some of that, I'm sure they come alive at night :)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your comment, Jenny!
DeleteHenry, Jenny Woolf is the author of the book about Lewis Carroll that I wrote about in one of my posts! Read her book when you get the chance, you will love it!
"The Mystery of Lewis Carroll"...there, read it! I will quiz you on it the next time I see you! I felt as if I had so much in common with Lewis Carroll, it must be because we are both GENIUSES! Yes, that's it, I'm sure of it! HA!
Happy birthday to Henry from north of Watford.Loved his story about the Latin teacher - ours used to constantly tell us off for not sitting up straight and would sneak up from behind and try to pull the pen out of our hand to show us we were holding the pen too tightly. There's clearly something not right about latin teachers! x
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your comment, Julie! I love YOUR story about the Latin teacher, strange but also funny!
DeleteMy thanks again to all, from so many different places, for making this such a special time. There is a real sense of community evident in this blog.
ReplyDeleteLatin teachers certainly were a breed apart. My other Latin master had one arm - he lost the other at Arnhem ( the bridge too far) - revelled in the name of 'Hooky' and insisted on ending any word that ended in s with about 6 ssssss. He often read the lesson in morning assembly and his pronunciation of 'Jesus lives' was truly unique.
You are right to add a warning about the Henrys, Kay. The last of that number, despite being seen as a comical sort of fellow - the many wives and the large girth- was utterly ruthless and not a patch on his often overlooked father.
Yes, tell us more about the Rockdale Gazette item Kay.
What I know about Lewis Carroll could be contained on the back of a postage stamp so I will have to explore.
Kind Regards to all,
Henry
Dec. 2011 and Feb. 2012...if you go back on my blog on those dates, you will see my two posts about the Lewis Carroll book. He spent so much time in Eastbourne and loved it! I am sure you must have known that about him!
DeleteOh, and what about Henry VIII's son, the one who died at a very young age, am I remembering that he seemed to be a very good soul?
Let me know if you get to read the book about Lewis Carroll, I thought it was fascinating. (The author found out a lot about him by examining his bank account, which she obtained just by asking for it!)
Tickled that you liked this post, Henry. "Chuffed" is the word that you say, I think! :-) You know me, I get all these English words mixed up! Cheers!
I will certainly look at those blogs. No, I didn't have a clue about the Eastbourne connection.
ReplyDeleteEdward VI had a remarkable intellect. He was Protestant to the core so it is a matter of taste as to how the country would have fared under him rather than Mary 1 who was Catholic to the core. In these parts, it is best not to mention (Bloody Mary).
Cheers
Henry
Good, I am glad that I was thinking correctly, and I thought his name was Edward, I just remember thinking how much I liked him and wondering what it would have been like had he lived.
Delete