Who did it? Birthday cake again…..

Someone once said “life is like the loo roll, the nearer the end the quicker it seems to go”. Well hitting yet another birthday, when I can still clearly remember the last one as if it was yesterday, seems a little like my life is running at quickening pace every year, but hey, I am still alive and living everyday with best people I know.

Although I bear no resemblance to the Queen, I do appreciate having one official (work) birthday and one ‘real’ one. This year was no different, my official birthday (the day before my real one) was one in which the team celebrated with me. On the team we make the most of each other’s special moments, if I get the chance I enjoy being the ring leader (or is it ring master?) when it comes to other people’s birthdays/hen doo etc that is, as I like making the fuss, but I can’t do that on my own (that is just creepy and sad). But I am very lucky, as the team do it better than me anyway, not only do I get gifts (which fit my personality eg bead necklace making set! – lucky or what!), hugs and cards (although I never found money in any cards again this year, note to self, I must be too old for that – shock! horror!). They even put on a tea time party, complete with party games – pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel, I don’t think I have ever had these games at my own party. Ironically I won pass the parcel, I say ironically, which is wrong I mean I naturally as I cheated – well it was my birthday!! One of our new team members won pin the tail, he had been bemused at the antics to begin with, but was more than ecstatic when he won, especially as he went home proudly carrying his alphabet set (bought at my favourite party shop Poundland – a bargain in every purchase). We ended our party with a brilliant selfie of some of the team that were in – the gorgeous people that they are.

My real birthday was a full day with friends and family (which is a treat in itself), as we visited the Golden Lion in Osmotherly, a lovely little pub, with brilliant food and lovely surrounding countryside. We even got to take our 4 legged friend Alfie in who could only look in wonder at the food. But the final treat was a real killer – a murder mystery organised by Son Number 2 and his beautiful partner Princess T. Who can I say treated me to a whole weekend of surprises that made me cry as well as laugh. The murder mystery certainly ended my day with lots of laughs and even a little exercising of the grey matter as we worked through an alcohol enhanced role play. I got to wear a very blood soaked pair of hospital scrubs but I didn’t turn out to be the killer! But I did guess who was the killer, and it wasn’t the fabulously tasting cheesecake maker Number 2 Son! No I can’t tell you who actually did it as if I told I might have to kill you. Either way it’s with thanks to those murder suspects, friends and team who made my birthday very special, I am eternally (literally bloody) grateful to you, as I am one lucky 50 something!……..

Oh… and I did find a card with money in (50p to be exact) from the gorgeous Lady L, who still sees the child in me – love that lady…

Can I taste just a little please?

Happy Birthday 365 days after the last one…..

“The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”
Madeleine L’Engle US writer

Horoscope: “Being a Virgo born on September 6th, you may be most well known for your will power. In the face of any challenge, you have the discipline and perseverance to be successful. Even in chaotic situations, you have the ability to bring order with great organization skills. As you are a very social person, you have developed the ability to lead others tactfully and effectively. Your friends, family and coworkers see you as a natural leader”. ……Oh really!?……,

Yes its that time again – my birthday. I am 51yrs, 1hour and 3mins (well thats if I was born at the beginning of the day – I don’t know this piece of birthing information, having no older family members left to ask). But as I try to find an exciting thing to say about the number 51, I find I am just content to say I am glad to be here!! Not because I have suffered ill health or any major struggles, no I have been blessed and I am just grateful for my lot. However as I get older I am more sensitive to ageing, which includes ailments and struggles of those around me. I read a article this week which said we were the “sandwich generation” who are caring for both grand babies (and big kids) and elderly parents. This is reflected in my friendship group that’s for sure, as I watch with respect my friends supporting young and old in their family. We moan that the big kids just don’t leave home anymore (well not quick enough) and elderly parents demand more attention, which is hard to give holding down full time jobs. Yes ‘Family Life’ at its best and worse.

With my parents past away and having only 1 son in residence (currently), I find my mind wandering back to memories of my parents and their lives. I can’t help wondering what struggles they faced. My mum died in her early 50s so would have experienced some of these life experiences. I have thought how good it would be to have her back just for one night of girly chat, with a few of my aunties (also long gone – she was one of 9 kids) and a few of my girlfriends. we could talk about EVERYTHING, sharing the pains, giggles and hopefully wise guidance.

In this supernatural dream we would get some perspective on our current issues. My mum would say “Love, there’s nothing you can do about (whatever) and its best you just get on with it. As in the end it sorts its self out anyway”. I can’t be sure those would be her words, I really can’t remember her voice that clearly anymore, which is sad, but I think that those that went before us, survived similar and it made them who they were and it will do the same for us. I do hold on to the fact that no matter what any of us worry about today, it will be a distant memory replaced with something very different in the coming weeks, months and hopefully years!

That’s life and whether 51 is a boring number or not it’s at the start of a decade, so who knows what is ahead. I recently heard someone say you should “Allow yourself the possibility of something greater” which I think gives hope for the future so I am going to use it as my 51yr ‘mission statement’, which could have been just how my mum thought, you never know……