Love it when a plan comes together!

Few things in life can surpass the excitement of receiving a wonderful surprise. When I look back, I have been given some very memorable gifts: A Peter Pan colouring book and Lakeland crayons from my favourite Auntie when I was around 8, a number of handmade items from my little sister, chief among them would be two paintings and then this year, a lovely and very handy beach bag, several handmade things from my girlies as they were growing up- I remember a binker, embroidered coaster from Claire; many things from Tom and perhaps the most poignant, an amazing blue opal ring from my dad, which he never got to give me himself, but which we found labelled up in a small brown envelope after he died. I will treasure the memory of all these and the people who gave them to me, always; but giving a memorable present is even more pleasurable:
Just under eighteen months ago, I thought it would be great if Tom and I could send Helen to the Olympics for her birthday. We duly registered for the first ticket draw, bidding for two tickets to the Dressage event on the actual day. Fortune, they say, favours the brave! We were successful in that ballot, even though many a better man wasn't and, in due course we received the tickets for Greenwich Park, on 3rd August 2012.
On Friday, in the late afternoon, Helen called me to tell me, that she had had a lovely day. She had seen a British competitor perform the winning round in that event. The atmosphere in and around the arena was, she said, electric! She watched many fine performances including some from what we hope might be the winning team. She saw some wonderful horses. She shared all this with Luke, her other half and she tells me that there are some wonderful photos of the day. I know that no birthday present that we can give will ever top this one; it was a once in a lifetime experience for someone that we love dearly. There can be few more satisfying emotions than that, surely!