Birthday cake

and other delights appeared on the menu yesterday. It was the Senior Cat's 96th birthday - officially.
We had celebrated it a little early so as to accommodate the working lives of various people but  yesterday was the actual day.
It started out quietly enough with two books from me - additions to the book "menu" always being welcome.
Family and friends called to wish him well and a friend came to pick up the first load of magician's apparatus the Senior Cat is at once both reluctant and happy to pass on - reluctant because it means acknowledging he won't be doing any more and happy that someone else will be using it. That took most of the morning - punctuated by those calls.
The lovely person who comes in to help me do two hours of heavy cleaning once a fortnight gave him a hug and a kiss.  (Yes, I know it isn't usual for cleaning ladies to do that but this one is entirely exceptional and we are very fond of her.) 
At 1pm another friend arrived and whisked him off to a small concert - a regular event for "seniors" run jointly by a local church and the council. While he was out I rushed to the shops to get the ingredients for one of  his favourite desserts - pavlova. No, he does not get that very often - too much sugar and cream. With the lack of a fridge at present I had to do that as late as possible. It made up for not being able to make his favourite birthday lunch - also due to a lack of a fridge at present. 
A friend arrived with his new trousers - which she had taken up. 
He came home from the concert with (a) a box of home-made biscuits - the sort he likes and (b) half a birthday cake - the other half had been eaten at the afternoon tea part of the concert.
I had no idea he was getting either of those things.
There were more phone calls - the last at nearly 9pm - from a fourteen year old to whom he has taught conjuring.
It made me wonder how many people his age are still so well thought of that they have younger friends who will take him out occasionally, make him cake and biscuits , and sends cards or call him on a birthday? 
Did I ever happen to mention that he is remarkably easy to get along with?