What does it feel like to be 100 ?

We have just had a big weekend. Granny, great granny, Ma, Nancy Gilks turned 100 on the 18th. The letter from the Queen arrived in an envelope from Buckingham Palace signed by the other Queen.

We ask her what it feels like and she smiles. "I don't really know. I have not been here before." But where she has been and what she has done has made her 100th birthday memorable. Those who know her marvel at her resilience, her refusal to be defeated, her innate curiosity about the world and her Queen Nancy faultless appearance throughout her long life.

So on the day she enjoyed a hot bath and chose her outfit, her pearls and earrings and applied her lipstick to her lips. All this, the day after she had been discharged from hospital. Thankfully the reasons she ended up there were all addressed by excellent care at the Royal Free.The NHS is unparalleled and every effort must be made to protect it ...

So we were driven to our celebration at the Shard in London where we enjoyed spectacular views of London on a bright, cold, sunny morning in January. We thought perhaps she would be there for a while to greet family and a few friends but again defying the odds she lasted for the entire reception and lunch. She is as alert and interested as ever, though a little frail and more easily tired. 

Born in 1920, trains as a nurse before the NHS even existed, lives through wars and hears Hitler, travels all over the world following us around, trips to Africa, Switzerland and India. Since Pa died she lives alone and independently until now, skypes and emails, plays bridge, reads the papers and has an opinion on Trump, war with Iran, Megxit and above all has free reign (which we don't have) to ask her grandsons, those that are unmarried that is, if they have found partners!

We have messages from around the world wishing her the Happiest of Birthdays and I think it was.

Thank you all who have contributed in many ways to make this day unforgettable.