Birthday Boy (2024)

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Yes, it’s that time again – my Birthday!! 👍😁. We usually try and get away somewhere to celebrate, but this year is a little different!

Last year, we were in Greece, whilst the year before it was Switzerland – but in 2024, we’re celebrating here at home! It’s a full 12 years since we last had my Birthday at home. With our mega-break to New Zealand coming up later this year, getting away today/this week, just all felt a bit unnecessary! 🤔

Still, it’s what you make of the day isn’t it, and we’re looking forward to a Birthday Lunch with our great friends Paul & Sue later. The weather? Totally unpredictable as it turned out! The day began with rain (which has been a regular feature this week) then, out came the sun before returning to the wet stuff for the rest of the day! ☂️🌂☔☂️🌂☔

Surrounded by cards and gifts today makes me feel a lot younger on the inside. Everyone has been so generous! 😍 – some great gifts, helped these days by the obligatory (heavily distributed) ‘birthday list’ around family and friends who asked for inspiration (apparently, I’m a nightmare to buy for! – surely not!) 😁

Actually, even before my special lunch, the morning turned out to be a busy and very pleasant one! We planned to sit down and watch episode 1 of the brand-new series of Ludwig on BBC1, but instead, Janet dropped by, followed by neighbours David and Valerie and then Paul. All armed with gifts and cards – and in D & V’s case, Sausage Rolls too – it was a much better alternative than watching the box! 👍. Needless to say, the Sausage Rolls didn’t last long! 😉

Well, that was all a very welcome surprise and a great start to my day of celebration! 😁😁

Birthday Lunch – Pig & Waffle

Paul & Sue drove over to ours and after a quick ‘hello’ and the sharing my birthday gift (chocolate!), we made our way to the Pig and Waffle in nearby Grafton Underwood. I’m not sure why we’ve never been here before – they’re on our doorstep and part of the Greedy Gordon’s group (who also manage the Snooty Fox in Lowick, the Red Lion in Cranford and the The Buttery Cafe in Woodford – all very well-respected watering holes).

For the size of the establishment, it sported an extensive and varied menu. There was outside seating (but not today, unless you were very brave!). If you like Gin, there was also a great selection and plenty of continental beers too! Food-wise, it didn’t disappoint and a yummy overall experience. Whilst Paul and Sue opted for the Tapas (again, lots of choices!), Ann for the ‘Breakfast Bap’, I was as predictable as ever – tackling their ‘Greedy Burger’. It was to be one of the best burger-combos I’d had in a long time – those red onions and the onion chutney made all the difference! 😋😋. The Tapas were also well-received where the generous portions almost beat us… Almost! – and I was happy to assist! 😁. None of us could manage a Dessert (even me!) and with the bill settled, it was back to ours.

With Coffees all around, back at base, we spent a couple of hours chatting about nothing in particular and it was all very chilled and very enjoyable. Perfect! A couple of hours later, we said our goodbyes and Paul and Sue headed home. It had been great to share my birthday lunch with our good friends!

Briefly, it was back to the TV and after finishing watching Ludwig (good wasn’t it!?), we had a quick tidy-up in readiness for Dave and Rosi who arrived early evening. Another card and another gift were sandwiched between plenty of chat, catching up with all their news from their recent holiday to Mallorca. Well, they certainly had the better weather than here, right now! The rain today, has been biblical, where it had been chucking it down since Paul and Sue‘s left.

And that’s how it stayed for the rest of the evening. In fact, by the time, we turned in for the night, it was STILL hammering it down! Yuk! 😮

Still, weather aside, it had been a very memorable day for all the right reasons – just how I hoped it would be! We may not have enjoyed good weather, but it was more than made up for by the legion of friends popping in and showering me with gifts and good wishes! 🙂🙂

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! 🎂


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