Everyone’s birthday should be praised, if not by all at least by oneself. It’s miracle in this world today that we manage to live yet another year. But the number of years I have reached this day are as nothing to that attained by Sandra’s mum. Just reverse the numbers in my age and you’ll see how old she is.

I think that Sandra’s mum is a prime example of how to grow old gracefully. Apart from the conventional wishes given to me I should say that the real wishes today go to her for having undertaking a journey , at her age, certainly fraught with perils, to reach Sandra and me in our little Apennine haven.

So, I say, the very best wishes to Elia. It’s wonderful to have sixty niners and ninety sixers together on this birthday eve! And with our favourite cats too…