As most of you know, it was my 24th birthday on Saturday 25th, and very fun it was too! We were very lucky with the weather, as it was a beautifully sunny day – especially in comparison to the current monsoon weather we’re experiencing!
I started my birthday celebration on Friday at work, with cakes for my co-workers! I had a half day, and also received a few cards & a mountain of chocolate from Sarah – she knows me well, and rightly said that fancy chocolates would be wasted on me! Hayley got me a box of milk tray.. mmm – the only boxed chocolates I like!
Friday evening, James & I treated Gayley to Frankie & Benny’s where I had a scumptious burger & a delicious banana sundae.. mmmm. After the meal we waddled to the cinema at Broadway Plaza and settled in for the long haul – Harry Potter time! I LOVED it. The HP films just get better & better each time, as the actors grow and develop. I can’t wait for the next two films (the last book is in two parts), and I’m going to re-read the books as soon as I finish the Anne of Green Gables series, which I’m working my way through for what must be the 5th time at the moment.
On my birthday, we woke up early in the morning, thanks to a nearby house alarm that started at 6am and went off continuously for two and a half hours. Argh. Anyway, we closed the bedroom windows to dull the sound, James brought me coffee in bed and then presented me with my cards & gifts! When I was a child we all used to pile onto Mum & Dads bed to open our birthday presents, and I still like to do my opening first thing in the morning, preferably in bed!
James got me the new Katie Fforde book ‘Love Letters’ which I’ve wanted since it came out – it’s taken a lot of self restraint for me to resist buying it myself, she is one of my favourite authors! He also gave me the Sims 3 (YAY!), dangly cat earrings, a really pretty earring holder (I love dangly earrings!), a pretty t-shirt & some chocolate eclairs.
From family… My sister already gave me an antique sewing machine, a Radley handbag mirror, and the minature CK one collection. Mum & dad gave me a sewing machine a few weeks ago & Ruth (my mother-in-law) has given me the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing that was on my Amazon wishlist. James’s Grandparents sent me a lovely necklace which was so sweet of them! My grandparents sent me a cheque, and I received a handful of cards as well, yay! None of them were signed ‘Michael’ (my brother) though! 
The red & silver drop earrings on the earring holder were from Gayle, who gave me a matching necklace as well (and crunchy M& Ms!!). Suzi gave me a boots gift card & I have had a WH Smith gift card today as well, so I have some shopping to do! Michelle & Mia presented me with a very cute Tatty Teddy bear which Mia said was Homily, and Tria bought me my first moleskine notebook, which I’m wanted for ages!
For the rest of my birthday, we headed to ASDA to load up on BBQ supplies, and then came home and tidied the house like fury, as it was still in a big decorating mess! By the time people arrived it was quite respectable, apart from the kitchen which still had a pile of washing up to do!
The BBQ was great fun, James kept us well supplied with a constant stream of food and there was good conversation to go with it! I had a great time hanging out with my friends, chatting & laughing. I managed to get the drinking spot on as well, a nice little buzz from the smirnoff ices & cider I was enjoying, but I wasn’t even very tipsy or drunk, just relaxed. Hurrah!
And a 3 year old climbed me. Lots of times. It was highly amusing. And then we watched Monsters Inc.
Since my birthday I have mostly been reading (I finished Love Letters in one day on Sunday and loved it!), watching Veronica Mars episodes, or playing on the Sims 3 on my iMac. More to come on that later, but for now check out my temporary iMac configuration, with me crossed legged on the sofa & the iMac on the desk chair.. our desk is still dismantled because of the decorating!
Thanks for all the birthday messages and cards I’ve received!!
