Bloody hell – 53! Every year it feels the same – how did I manage to pull that one off, and make it to being another whole year older?! It does at least mean I never have that sinking feeling of getting old/looking crap/worrying about age – I am always too grateful to have just crawled round to another October to give a toss about anything else! (OK, so it would be nice to be 2 stone lighter, but hey its only my birthday, not a blue moon miracle day..)
Had a few nice dinners out – cheers Claire, Jon & Pam for coming out for Thai – and then pootled down to the cottage on the day itself, starting off with a v nice dog walk at the beach. Scrumpy obviously totally delighted at getting a swim and a beach run, followed by Ross & I, as I had elected to have a dirty KFC as birthday lunch of choice!! Filthy food, but by god that chicken coating is GOOD.
Next stop on the food overdose was a birthday cake made by Madam Capon's fair hand, out of several of my favourite ingredients, namely chocolate, pears and nuts. A mighty fine and very kind effort!
Followed later by drinks & nibbles at the coot – though there was something eating at me and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Till I finally spotted that the very nice sign J & R had put up did in face say 'Happy Ribthday' – and it had come ready assembled like that from John Lewis!
Drinkies downed, we then headed off to check out the latest Pig hotel in the group – the very newly opened Pig on the South Downs, at Madehurst. Had a 9.15pm sitting there, which was just as well as by the time we ate, we were somehow hungry again and more than ready to test out some fine pork chops and venison, among other delights. Though Ross ordering the 'piggy bites' – pieces of crackling – was still the best choice of the night!
So, while 53 niggles at me as it is a prime number, which I am not keen on for some obscure reason, it has settled on me well. Thank you to all for the Facebook messages – bloody loads! – and cards, prezzies and general loveliness. And a special shout out to David & Mands for the birthday box of Fat Rascals from Betty's in Harrogate – delicious – nestled in with a bottle of the magic alchemic stuff to replace egg white in cocktails.
Cheers to all, v much appreciated as always x