My Mother

Mom,

As your son, I was having some trouble thinking of what to "blog" on your new website for a number of reasons... 1) I see you almost every day (a great and sometimes not so great thing for both of us!), 2) could I just text you this!? 3) are you even my real mother? (Maggie McLaughlin might have something to say about this!). But it is your birthday, so I will try my best! :)

I have known you for 23 years, almost half your life, and I'm not sure if that makes me old or you old. From putting up with my yelling in the street with Mike at 3 in the morning to me constantly wanting to know what we are having for dinner, you have been an AMAZING mother to both me and Georgia. Even though our little 4 person family can be disfunctional at times, I have yet to seen one that works as well as ours does (and I work with kids!) and this has a lot to do with you (cause was it really dad!?)!

So I'm not going to make a poem or get super mushy, cause its really not our families M.O. When I think of my mom a number of things of pop into my head and to name a few...
1) You have always been there for all of us and put up with all of our crap
2) You know the difference between an English sky and an American sky
3) Do you have milk? i'll have tea!

But really, I love you and so does Georgia, Dad, and all my friends. You are an amazing person, your smart beautiful, fun, and all around great. You make me smile whenever I'm home. You have let me make my own choices and learn from my mistakes, which I love you even more for. Again, you have been a great Mom and I can't thank you enough for that. I have yet to meet someone that didn't like you. I hope that as I continue to grow older, I have half the passion and love for life you have.

I'm kinda rambling so I'll end it with a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I LOVE YOU
Dan

From Claire...

A message from Claire, who is internetless at the moment:

"To Aunty Karen,

Have an absolutely wonderful birthday and make sure you have lots of fun! Here are some words that make me think of you:

Kind (and always caring)
Academically astute (and always open to debate)
Ravishingly beautiful
Energetic, enthusiastic and always motivated
Never without a book, always keeping fit

Never change!!!!

Lots of love

Claire"

Birthday greetings from the blogmeister

Dearly regarded Princess Doctor Karen person...

The happiest of birthdays tay yay. Especially as now you have joined the esteemed club of those of us who are 50. And yet, whilst naturally wanting to congratulate you on this auspicious occasion, I feel it is also only right to bring to your attention the huge costs incurred in bringing this multi-media birthday digifest to life. Zoe has a permanently hunched back from peering at her Mac book at 2am..I am seeking anger management counselling in realtion to video editing software..and Bob is unfortunately having to go and report to the MD of the IMF at 4pm on Monday with a telephone directory down his trousers after being caught sending emails and trying to view videos concerning some material that was "..VERY inappropriate and irrelevant to his core function of grinding the bastards down with activity-based cost control..". This photo gives just the merest hint of the sort of high-tech project management resources that were thrown at the task of assembling the "Karen's Hour" tribute podcast. And resources, as you know, cost time and money..and plenty of them.

So I feel it is only fair to seek full recompense for these frankly crippling outlays. Recompense in the form of unlimited supplies of Sam Adams, chilled Chardonnay, chips, salsa and Pepperidge Farm orange milanos - to be available f.o.b Bethesda MD whenever the missus and I can get there.

Have a wonderful birthday mah leetul choux fleur!

Hugs and probably a snog too

Andy
XX

The glories of Penshaw Hill

Penshaw Hill...County Durham landmark, local beauty spot and monument to the fine achievements and aesthetic sensibilities of the English gentry. Also one of Karen's favourite places..so pour yourself a drink..sit back..and enjoy the sound of the breeze..the skylarks..the youths breaking bottles on the cycle paths..in the company of your genial host, George Bedell MBE!

Happy 50th Karen

Have a great time.  Just to let you know that as Bob has gone soft we might as all do it.  I quite like you and you have some good qualities! There - it is said - now on with the celebrations.  

Lots of love from Zoe xx 

An early indication of Karen's love of cycling. Did you and Graeme always have to pull the car or did your Dad sometimes put petrol in?

My family can't blog

Angie, Adam, Maya and Reuben say Happy Birthday but can't work out how to do it this way!