”Thank you for my Easter cards”, says Joan, 94, of Penrhyn, as she settles in to watch “The Sound of Music” for the umpteenth time.

Well, she may or may not have, but we did, or at least the last fifty hours of it.  One shouldn’t under-estimate the impact of this block-buster at the time.  Resident in London as a musical, then a film, it made its way to the provinces and was eagerly looked forward to.

Fifty seven years ago, I drove my parents into central Brum (that in itself was a novelty – first family car, me passed my test, not using the train), parked near the Gaumont cinema, showed our tickets, and settled into damn near armchairs, in its revamped interior.  Three hours later we emerged into the September early evening, amazed at having been Todao’d, or Vistavisioned, or whatever., and me totally in love with Liesl and desperate for a girl friend.

Anyway, back to the plot, Joan is in Easter mood and eggs abound.

And cards are displayed (not including late arrivals)

Once again, thank you on her behalf for your good wishes.

And our thanks to Joan for our Good Friday lunch – an habitual Scampi and Chips, and of course mushy peas.