Today is my birthday. It crosses a threshold I wasn’t keen on and came far too quickly. We were lucky enough to have had plans for distractions in pretty places and with friends - but those fell apart with the pandemic. But I have to say, this might have been better...

For one thing, connectivity enabled us to connect with friends all over the world - beyond the usual Facebook-reminded posts. I don’t think that would have happened on a selfish-getaway where I try to outrun the years.

The situation let me appreciate just how many wonderful friends and family we have around us - and how creative they are (looking at you @AltonCorp ! Hope that video is private!) Today has been pretty damned special and I am grateful for it.

Wherever you might be reading this thread now, know this: right now is super challenging, but if you can read this post you are connected. Billions of us are connected - we are all out here reading and watching about things that interest us.

Through shared joys (and tribulations) new friends are to be made. And this glue that is the web can help make those connections last. I know this is altruistic, and cyberspace has its challenges - but I love that we are connected. And for that, and you, today I am grateful!