A Happy Birthday!

It was my first birthday without Dad on Saturday and in truth, I wasn't really looking forward to it ... after all, there I was, about to notch up yet another year further away from forty, rapidly hurtling towards fifty, but this time with no Dad to sit in my armchair supping his mug of sugarless tea and chuckling as he called me 'old girl'.  My son had left home, my daughter was enjoying a hen weekend in Spain with the 'girls', so it was definitely a day best left to pass by quietly ...

Silly me!  As if my family and friends would allow that to happen! I woke to Interflora knocking on the front door with a stunning display of long stemmed roses from Fay and from that moment on was overwhelmed with special cards, gifts, flowers (my goodness, so many flowers!) caring messages and family visits for the rest of the day. 

I received many birthday cards this year, cats, elephants, butterlies, flowers ... all of my favourite things!

... a beautiful personalised handmade card from my sister Lynda in Basingstoke ...

This one was from my sister Fiona, carefully chosen to reflect our dancing days as young girls ...

And I was completely thrilled when, knowing I will soon be moving workrooms, my son and his girlfriend presented me with a lovely basket full of special gifts carefully chosen to match the decor - in fact, Hannah made the gorgeous inspirational pieces of art for my wall ... such a talented lady!

I have been very touched by everyone's thoughtfulness this year; it made my birthday more special than I could possibly have hoped for. 

I'm sure I don't say this often enough ... thank you all for caring about me xxx