A Heads Up for next Thursday....

No, it's MY day.

Since I was little I have always been able to pretend that nobody shares my birthday. My birthday is unique. I don't even admit to sharing it with Joan Collins who, unfortunately, had the temerity to try to pass it off as her birthday. I've always been lucky enough to not know anybody who has the same birthday. (and I don't want to) The only person I ever shared it with was the first boy to kiss me, on the school field when I was 13. He used to tell me that his idea of heaven was a decent settee, a video of Blakes 7 and me. He was 14, or I suppose a decent bottle of wine would have featured in there too. His name was Chris but, for some unfortunate reason everyone called him Bessie. And, yes, I did like/love him in that strange sexless way that you can when you're (very) young, and any thing physical just seems like a big joke (you do what? And put it where? Oh how disgusting! I still think sex proves that God has the biggest sense of humour going) But then I grew older & decided that he wasn't the one and that strange gawky friend of my brothers might not talk sci-fi but didn't half have beautiful eyes. One look and I was gone. Take your glasses off, Peter. Not only are your eyes lovely, but you'll never see how mean the years have been to me. Of course, I'll have to lead you everywhere by the hand, but that can be romantic, too, can't it?

So, here we are, the big 39. I'm not ashamed, I'll celebrate every birthday and next year... well, next year I might have a party or I might just persuade PT that we need to go to France on holiday. I can read French, I can buy books in french in France.... no, I'm rambling again.

I have to say thank you again and again to those of you who remembered (How clever of you! How did you know? Next year I'll be more delicate & just change my banner headline to DON'T FORGET 23RD!) It's lovely. Mmmm.

So I have got up, opened my presents, got my post, read my books (a little) and am posting about my day before it's over. The red and white flags are out all over Liverpool to celebrate my special day and, apparently, they've arranged entertainment for me in Athens tonight. Nobody gave me a ticket, so it's fish & chips, a Kir Royale and the Telly for me tonight. The kids are staying up late especially... DP hates football, but loves staying up, JW does football and tells everyone if they want to improve their game, they need to wear studs (The postman was surprised) and The Princess' Nickname is Chopper, after Chopper Harris. Yes, I know, there are lots of you out there going 'who?' but apparently he was a famous footballer in the 70's who was infamous for going in for the balls plural rather than singular. The Princess is a bit of a toughie. Bless.

I have a couple of friends coming, Barefoot Contessa style, for lunch, so I am cooking lunch. It's a fun thing, not a work thing like cooking dinner would be. Nice tablecloth, clean glasses for elderflower presse, confit de canard (my favouritest food ever) and fresh strawberries with extra thick cream. Mmmm. How good is that? And a litle time afterwards to drink fresh coffee and plan for next year. Meal out? Weekend away? Dublin? Paris? Or lunch at mine with confit de canard again? I'm a traditionalist, so it'll be the duck, then.

Pictures in this post (I'm not good enough to be able to label them yet) have been from 'The Barefoot Contessa at Home', Trish Deseine's 'Nobody does it Better; why french home cooking is still the best in the world' and her essential cooking book, 'Ma Petite Robe Noire et autres recettes' which lays out her top cooking repertoire in the manner of a fashionable wardrobe. Oh, and it's in French (that's me bragging that I've bought a french recipe book... sorry. Bragging is not polite, but I'm so chuffed I can read it) They also include Sarah at Everything Stops For Tea's card to me... thanks Sarah! And Papoosue at Random Blether's gift parcel, a beautiful seeded heart and a coaster with the definition of Besom on... Oh joys! I now have a nickname suitable to my age and abilities! Thank you, Sue, and I shall keep it by the 'puter and think of you!