Birthday celebrations

After a five hour ride through snow, rain and bright sunshine from south to north, we arrived in Düsseldorf on saturday just in time to help a bit with the family meeting. Helen's birthday was celebrated all through the weekend, starting with a huge party for all her friends on friday evening, fireworks at midnight included, continueing on saturday with a family and family friends meeting which started at 3 p m and went until late at night (lots of homemade cakes, and later the best oven baked soup you can imagine, delicious!), and sunday with just the sisters and their children, a relaxed brakfast and lunch, and finally a dinner in an italian restaurant.
Everybody was happy and loved the celebration, especially Helen, of course, who got lots of presents and flowers. Her big sister Cathy had written a small book "Cathy, tell me...". What a great idea, and done beautifully.
Even my father was smiling at everybody and wasn't willing to leave before late at night. He seemed to be really happy, especially when Alex took him for a walk in his wheelchair.
On sunday, Anna and Alex left after lunch and were back home in Stuttgart in the evening, just in time to let the cats enjoy some of the spring sun in the garden. They had to start studying again the same evening, having missed out on it during this week.
We took the time before they left to visit my mother's grave in the churchyard close by, and Thommy took us for a ride in his oldtimer, along the river Rhine, to Urdenbach, across by ferry to Zons, and back to Eller.
I'm leaving soon as well, flying back to Berlin this afternoon. My first guest will come tomorrow morning, Elsis from Helsinki, and then for two weeks lots of friends from all over Europe to celebrate my birthday with me. Cathy can't come, though. :(