It was my birthday a few days ago – and this year of course, the conundrum of how to celebrate, Lockdown style…
All my working life (and this summer saw me celebrating 30 years of being an osteopath) I have had a rule to Never Work on my birthday: – rather, a day out, and then a good meal with husband, or boyfriend/admirer, in the evening.
This time last year I was in a play, so my day out was exploring Epping Forest, and then the play in the evening. It was on a Saturday, and their custom was to always have a mid-run party after the middle Saturday performance, so that very neatly dovetailed and became a bit of a party for me as well. Huge fun.
Party – remember them?!
Mmm, this year’s birthday took a little thought, and has in fact grown into an extended celebration – Lockdown style 😊
The day before, I had a long socially distanced walk with a friend on a very muddy Hampstead Heath. Joyfully we had the sunny patch in the middle of the day, in-between the torrential downpours 😊
On the day itself:
– an early phone call with one of my closest friends
– A socially distanced ramble for a couple of hours with a Suffolk friend around the grounds at Ickworth House, near Bury St Edmunds – with some singing included [of course!] in the wonderful acoustic of the Pavilion.
I chose a NT property because I knew there would be toilet facilities 😊
With no pubs to dine in, a lady has to think about these things. My male walking companions have a more convenient anatomy for relieving themselves en route… 😊
– A gloriously meandering drive home soaking in all the autumn colour.
– For supper, I treated myself to Fish and Chips – with a glass of chilled white wine 😊
– Then I lit my special candle and opened all my cards. The candle was a christening gift when I was a baby, and it only gets lit once a year, on my birthday – it’s the middle one in the photo
– In a local Morrison’s I had noticed in the Christmas gift section that they had tasting sets of miniature whiskies by McLeod, so I bought one of those and slowly enjoyed all 3 of them while watching Working Girl on a DVD 😊
– Apart from that, it was a day of minimal computer/tech time: Bliss
And tomorrow I am meeting with another close friend for a socially distanced walk and talk 😊
The day after, I had the pleasure of reading my Facebook friends’ greetings – and when I reported on how the day had gone, there was a host of comments, such as:
– Sounds like a wonderful way to spend your birthday
– Lovely, well done you !!
– Perfect day! Love the Birthday candle. X
– Sounds like you made a lovely day, despite our weird happenings.
– How fabulous
– Happy birthday, it sounds like you celebrated in style xx
– Positivity always beams out of your posts, Christina, you obviously had a really lovely birthday x
And my favourite, from a feisty American artist friend:
– and THAT’s how a classy chick spends her birthday!!!!
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I am a Classy Chick 😊 – love it!
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One of the things I at least am learning from this extended time at the court of Lady Corona and Lord Covid is to slow down and really take the Time to soak up the pleasure from simple things…..
As one of the comments said – I was able to MAKE a lovely day – and it truly is one to remember, and with a smile as well . . .
What positives are you learning during this time?