Fab at 40!

Celebrated the small 40 last Thursday with a couple of parties and lots of fun. In a couple of weeks Paul and the children will be taking me (and them) to see Joseph in London as another birthday treat.

Lovely padded heart from Katie


Decorated beach stone from Ben

Thursday: up at 6 to head off to HE Group 1 willow weaving in Kings Cliffe. Ben stayed and played with his mate - something he always looks forward to. Willow weaving lasted the morning, and most of the children enjoyed a cold paddle in a very fast flowing stream during their break and lunch times. The weather was glorious. We also went to see the weaving teacher's new 11 month old colt, as well as her other two ponies, so Katie was mighty happy.



In the evening, I took some friends and family to Laser Force for a couple of games. I did this a few years ago when working at a playgroup and remembered being really nervous thinking I wouldn't enjoy it. Immediately I found it was absolutely brilliant fun and knew it was something I'd like to do as a party. We had 8 children and 8 adults on each team, and each team won one game. There is certainly something quite competitive about trying to "shoot" the opposite team with your laser gun to gain points, learning to hide from and surprise your opponents, try extremely hard not to get "shot" yourself and (probably the hardest part for us adults), find and shoot the hidden targets for bonus points. A surprise curry on our way home at our favourite Indian was an end of evening treat! Thank you everyone who came for such a fun evening.

We were pooped by the time we reached home (about 10.30). The bottle of wine left chilling in the fridge all day didn't get touched - Paul, our mate Andy, and I just craved a cup of tea (that shows our age doesn't it!?).

Saturday: up at 6 again to head down South for a family get-together at my sister (and her family)'s home. Surprisingly easy journey down (taking a little over 3 1/2 hours) and a great day had by all. My sister, Clare, had put heaps of imagination and thought into making the day special for me. It was lovely seeing all my side of the family together under one roof, and she put on a scrummy buffet for us all to enjoy and nibble our way through as well as setting up a craft table for the children (and at times the adults) to keep busy with. The weather, again, was great, so we spent a lot of time outside with the children playing cricket or in the sandpit. Lots of free catch-up time between us all. Not just all that but Clare also put together a basket of goodies of 10 things that I said I liked (if I'd known I would have said diamonds and other expensive trinkets!). She asked me by email a few weeks ago and I replied with things like "bonfires, that summery smell, freshly cut grass, laundered clothes, curry" so she certainly had her work cut out finding things to match those descriptions! My brother-in-law put together two CDs featuring No. 1 hits for the 7th May from 1969 to date - that must have taken him ages. Finally, and probably the best surprise of all, each member of the family had decorated a letter which, when all hung together, read "Happy Birthday Auntie Elaine" and underneath were photos of me from 3 months up until Christmas 2008! Amazing and delightful really do not describe how thrilled I was with the whole day. Thank you so much Clare and family - a truly lovely sister.




Having reached home at nearly midnight (after a couple of stops to try and wake us up a bit), we certainly needed a restful day on Sunday - time to sit and reflect, with another cup of tea or two (we still haven't opened the bottle of wine).