Denis

Dear Ian,

I have had the privilege and definite pleasure of knowing you and Pauline for many years now - we go back a long time and as can be confirmed by the "Buddies" E-Mail which you sent out a couple of days ago-I do definitely consider you and Pauline as firm friends-I have very pleasant memories of buying you some giant Hamburgers in San Antonio to celebrate your 55th Birthday some 5 years ago-was it really that long ago ?- my how time flies by !

There is a haunting line in T.S. Eliot's "Waste Land"-"where has time gone?-time for the living?" where indeed ? What has happened to last year? indeed what has happened to the first 5 years of this Millennium for that matter?-it has flown by.

I have very fond memories of working together in Marketing with Richard Roman ( with whom I still remain in touch- he wants me to go and teach for 3 months in China-mind you a Chinese take away will never be the same again if I do take him up on his offer !) - Wendy Semczuk, John Westmancoat and others in the halcyon years conducting business very professionally, making a lot of money for our employers in the process and having fun at the same time-work hard and play hard was the motto.

I appreciate your good sense of humour and your team play and sense of loyalty-but above all your practicality and excellent sense of humour-an essential ingredient to combat the stresses of modern life. I appreciate your jokes very much-they cheer me up considerably-occasionally I do send you a few good ones in return don't you think ?-I think that the mens' rules was a gem don't you think?

Anyway, me old mate-Happy 60th Birthday-let me know if you and Pauline come down to London and we can meet up-Here's to the next 60 years !! may you and Pauline who now can join you in retirement enjoy health, happiness, peace of mind and serenity AND HAVE THE PLEASURE OF THE GRANDCHILDREN GROWING UP AND SOMETIMES MAKING THE VERY SAME MISTAKES WE DID !!!-all the best for the future and do keep sending the jokes in !!!!

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU IAN, MATE !!!!!
YOUR OLD MATE, DENIS ( REIDY)