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We celebrated Jan's 50th birthday here in Paris with a surprise party for her. Unknown to Jan, Gerry had been scheming from the day in New Jersey when we committed ourselves to our Belleville flat. He sent secret e-mail to all Jan's family and all the friends that he could, inviting them to Paris to celebrate Jan's 50th birthday. Through a few slips Jan knew that something was up but she never guessed that it was a surprise party in Paris.

She was very surprised. Here she is just about to open Gerry's gift to her. Her sister Joan and our nephew Liam Atkinson are recording the event.

Jan and Cheryl Bee

On July 24th we had agreed to stay home and go out to lunch at 2:00 p.m. The buzzer sounded and Gerry went to get it. He knew, but Jan didn't, that a surprise guest was at the door. It was Cheryl Bee, who studied French and Russian with Jan at Bradford University. Gerry snuck her in and here she is at the moment Jan gets the great surprise.

Ten minutes after Cheryl arrived, the buzzer sounded again. Jan knew something was up. But she was pretty surprised when her sister Joan, brother-in-law Mick, and their children, Michaela and Megan came in.

Ten minutes later another surprise. In comes still younger sister Carol, husband John, and their children, Liam and Jade. When the buzzer sounded again, Jan knew it must be another part of the Bates clan. The last four were older brother Don Bates and his wife, Sandra, and the daughters of her sister Sue, Cheryl and Lindsay.

There was still one surprise left. The last arrivals were not Bates's but Mick Farrant and Dinah Gallop, who had come together from London. We're ever grateful to them for all the times they have hosted us in London. Dinah and Jan were active in student (i.e. left-wing) politics at Bradford. Dinah is now a public relations official with the National Farmers Union in Britain. Mick specializes (proudly) in firing people that others won't. They came via Eurostar, their first chunnel adventure. They found it so convenient they'll likely do it again.

The Birthday Lunch

At 2:00 p.m. Jan and Gerry went off to lunch, as planned. Not as in Jan's plan, but as in Gerry's: we were accompanied by 15 others. We went up rue des Envergies to the Zital restaurant, where Gerry has made secret reservations. We took two tables. At right, faces visible, are Liam Atkinson, Jan, Joan, Megan, and Mick Heasman, Cheryl Bee, and Dinah Gallop.

The Birthday Lunch - II

The second but most important table (according to its occupants) seated (left-to-right) Lindsay Capstick, Sandra Bates, Cheryl Capstick, Don Bates, and John Atkinson. Also seated there was Gerry, but he's taking this picture. At the other table easily visible are Cheryl Capstick, Jade Atkinson, Michaela Heasman, Dinah Gallop, and Mick Farrant.

The Birthday Cake

The restaurant owner said that he did not have enough fire insurance to put 50 candles on the cake. So we made do with five. It was a delicisous cake, although it didn't have "Happy Birthday, Jan" as promised.

Opening Gifts

Gerry told everybody they should not bring any gifts unless they wanted to carry them home. We have far too many things in our baggage train already. Nonetheless Gerry broke his own rule and gave a necklace and matching bracelet to Jan.

The Birthday Necklace

That was another mystery to Jan: Gerry had almost always been within her sight. When could he possibly have found the time to go shopping in Paris for a gift? It took her three days to figure it out. (It will have to remain a mystery here.). When the Bates clan went back to Darlington they took the necklace and bracelet back with them and put it into storage for Jan.

All-aboard the Batobus

After lunch we took the Metro to the Batobus and had a nice boat ride on the Seine. Front row are four of our nieces, Cheryl Capstick, Michaela Heasman, Lindsay Capstick, and Jade Atkinson.

All-aboard the Batobus - II

Closest to the camera are Don and Sandra Bates, Mick and Joan Heasman. Jan is in front and to the right of Sandra.

The Batobus makes a circle from the Eiffel Tower to above the Ile St Louis and back to the Eiffel Tower. There are six stops; a single ticket allows one to get on and off as many times as desired in a day. Its a pretty good deal for 60 F ($9).

Sleeping Beauties

After the Batobus we saw Notre Dame and had an ice cream. Then, like almost every visitor subjected to Gerry's treatment, they said they were tired. (It's a complete mystery to him why.) So home we went and bedded down twelve guests. Don and Sandra Bates had wisely booked into a hotel, as had Dinah and Mick. Cheryl Bee stayed with her husband, Bob, who was also in Paris.

Waking Beauties

Sunday morning we took most everybody up to Montmarte and saw, among other things, Sacre Coeur.

The Bates clan had flown in from Teeside Airport to Charles de Gaulle. On Sunday afternoon we escorted eight of them to the Gare du Nord where they caught the RER train back to Charles de Gaulle airport.

The four others, Don and Sandra, Cheryl and Lindsay stayed on one more day. Don and Sandra took in Montmartre and Cheryl and Lindsay went by themselves to the Louvre.

February 26, 2003