Just what the doctor ordered

Thank you all so much for your birthday wishes for my daughter. She had a lovely day and is now all geared up for the party on Saturday, only bemoaning the fact that it's a whole week till half term when she can wear all her new clothes (thank goodness for school uniform). I think I better come clean and tell you all that I played no part in the making of the cake other than asking M to go and collect it from the shop, Choccywoocydoodah. This is the most brilliant shop for cakes, birthday and wedding, chocolates, sweets and the ultimate chocolate indulgence. Have a look at their website and drool! The cake we bought even had a chocolate funnel to hold an indoor firework instead of candles!



I've not been feeling too well and last week my eyes were sore and my head felt like it was in a vice and I couldn't move it. After the fifth day I had one of those Woody Allen moments when I was predicting doom and disaster, but thankfully the next day it cleared to be replaced by an awful cold! We had friends round on Saturday for a special birthday dinner and THE CAKE, If it had not been my daughter's birthday or the fact that these were our oldest and closest friends I might have cancelled. I'm pleased I didn't, we had a wonderful time. There's something very comforting being surrounded by friends and their children, friends that you share a history with, friends who've known you through the good and not so good times. These friends are like our family. My daughter had planned the meal and had planned to share the cooking, but she just had to go shopping! M had been a bit vague about the time our friends were coming too. Two hours earlier than I thought our friends turned up but it really didn't matter. We had the best time sharing the cooking, chatting and drinking wine (which I'm sure did my cold no end of good!). A few Nigella touches too - a batch of Hokey Pokey which is very sweet, delicious and fun and easy to make. Her chocolate dipping sauce which I poured into some cups and placed strawberries and mini doughnuts around the saucers and THE CAKE!



On Sunday the day of the birthday my cold was getting worse but C wanted to go up onto the Downs to her favourite spot and it looked so beautiful outside, so I wrapped up warm and went along, I'm glad I did, the scenery as ever was beautiful and I relished the quiet stillness of it all.



The birds were singing as if it were spring and we climbed and soaked up the sun's rays. I must admit the climb back up to the top was a bit daunting and I wish I could have gone striding ahead just like my youngest!



Yesterday I just felt rotten and OLD! I spent the day under an eiderdown, wrapped in a shawl on the sofa reading a book. The heating on its highest and still I felt cold. My back was aching so much that I couldn't walk without stooping.



Today however, my energy has returned, the heating's off and the chimney sweep has just been round to clean the chimney. It's grey and rainy outside and for once I've found two raincoats for the girls that they'll both wear! A pink (of course) Hello Kitty mac for the youngest and a sixties inspired trench for the oldest, this is the first time in years that they're both happy on rainy day walks to school.


A birthday party to plan, more pompoms to make and a roaring fire tonight, things are on the mend!