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No worries Maureen and yes, my party 'dinner' was very tasty as was the slice of chocolate cake (still plenty left for the next couple of days and as it is I'll need to do some extra long walks to burn off the excess calories!). The Titanic hotel is indeed wonderful. They've kept the character of the original design offices (the drawing office is now the cafe bar but still recognisable) and the museum next door is fascinating too. It focuses more on the building of the ship and the ground breaking techniques and developments they came up with in its building. For instance the builders added electric lifts to the scaffold so the workers could reach the top more safely. But it was so new for those workers that they didn't trust the lifts and preferred to climb the scaffolding hand over hand.

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Love the button

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Jul 19Liked by Harry Watson

Happy belated birthday, thank you for the wonderful story, I’d never heard it. I hope you enjoyed your day!

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Thank you Jenn, it was a quiet day but enjoyable all the same. My mother, with a twinkle in her eye, used to pull my leg that my father and her did think for a moment of naming me Swithin. It would have been an interesting name with which to grow up in a not so well off, deeply working class region of northeast England!!

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Jul 20Liked by Harry Watson

That is funny, but I think they choose well in the end!

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Here you go Harry. My little birthday present to you on your special day from 4 ‘pudlians on your side of the Pond. Happy birthday!

https://open.spotify.com/track/3pKKxkeB1pOUMHwWBmKc3Y?si=jnoMJQtZT9uQVWt3kGsjOw&context=spotify%3Asearch%3Afixing%2Ba%2Bwhole

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Thank you Tim and quite apt given my following of NUFC, since the cover features the Newcastle born Albert Stubbins ex-NUFC (and Liverpool). Songs aren't bad either 😉

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Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Harry.

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Thank you George 👍

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Jul 15Liked by Harry Watson

Happy Birthday! 🥳

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Thanks Jules 😊

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Jul 15Liked by Harry Watson

Happy Birthday, young man!

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Thank you John 👍

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Happy birthday, Harry. Enjoy your day and look forward to celebrating in person later this month.

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Thanks Andrew and much looking forward to it too!

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Happy birthday!

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Thanks Tracey

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Jul 15·edited Jul 15Liked by Harry Watson

I only met you on Saturday and I’ve picked up two bits of knowledge.

1) The northeast word Marra. It’s a term of endearment, friend, mate., But you explained it was the collier who filled the coal tub underground. The coal being passed back from the face by the hewer .

2) Pass the Port. Pass it to the left in the navy tradition. I’ll ask next time . Do you know the bishop of Westminster.

66 year old and I’m still learning.! Cheers

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Cheers Kevin 👍

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Many happy returns, Harry. Enjoy your drumsticks, chocolate cake and roof!

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Thanks Matt 👍

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Belated Happy Birthday, Harry ! Sorry, I missed your birthday, yesterday. Your dinner plus chocolate cake sounded lovely ! You’ve had some really wonderful past birthday celebrations. The Titanic Hotel in Belfast appears to be a really interesting place to stay.

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