Happy Birthday Ian

Today is Ian's birthday, not my son little Ian, but my brother, less little Ian.



Ian is the middle child between Jane (the eldest) and me (the least eldest).



Ian was gifted with a great intellect and he's finished a number of University degrees over the years. He has an impressive ability to understand and appreciate (what I consider to be) the most impossible kinds of art, like Bruckner's music, Blake's poetry and Pollock's painting.



He's also a minimalist which takes a tremendous will - to resist modern culture and it's trappings. Ian lives a spartan (sort of) life - free of knick-knacks, collections and unnecessary possessions. The only excesses are a vast number of friends and maybe a bit of good wine.



And even though he's always refined and dignified,



somehow things often turn into a laugh-riot when he's around.



I think that's a pretty nifty trick.

Happy Birthday Ian!