Birthdays!!

Birthdays are a strange thing aren't they.... to me it seems that they are a bit like Marmite, people love them or hate them!

I have always been a lover !! I love the excitement, the surprises the sense of feeling special just for a day. Birthdays were always a big event in our house, cakes, candles, prezzies and an event to mark the occassion!

However we then grow up and as we get older things change, priorities, time, money etc. My problem is I still feel like I am 17 or even 7 when it comes to birthdays, I still want the surprise and excitement which doesn't always happen.

For many different reasons, not excluding an exhausting week with a poorly son last Friday was a tricky day, even my 3 year old announced that it wasn't quite right as there was no balloons, bnanner, cake or candles!!

I have to confess I was feeling a bit deflated but managed to pull myself together enough to go out to Taggs for a drink with a nice surprise of my parents coming too..and then the whole day was transformed. Marc, apparently at the last minute, put a note on Facebook I had mentioned on Twitter and some very dear friends turned up to celebrate with me. It was a really lovely night of fun, cocktails, cake and banter. It was great to spend time with folk I don't usually get to talk with because of a little distraction, it was great to be able to relax and unwind and it was amazing to be spoilt with people dropping things at the last minute and thinking of cakes and candles!

Its times like Friday when you realise how people feel and I felt blessed!!

Thank you so much for those who shared the day with me...you know who you are!!

Late night reflections!

The last few nights have been tasking, Daniel has developed a  terrible cough ( not an infection) but a problem with his asthma or hay fever, anyway, medical issue aside it has meant that he has been coughing and coughing until he has been sick. After a few trips to the doctor and a late night visit to the emergency doctor nebulizer and all I have spent 2 nights propping Daniel up so he doesnt cough too much. During these sleep deprived nights it has actually given me the time and space to think. Of course I would much prefer to have been catching up on my beauty sleep , goodness knows I need it! but it has put things into perspective.

I have been thinking about the past, present and future of our current situation, I truly love the Peninsula and Hoo especially, I love the new contacts and friendships that have begun to form and I love how close our old friends and family are for support when we need it.

It may be exhaustion kicking in but reflecting like this makes me realise how much I really appreciate all I have been blessed with, a lively toddler, a devoted and creative husband a supportive family and the pleasure of doing a job I love meeting and engaging with people in the community. The next 2 years could invovle many big changes across the board and these 2 nights have helped me to realise that I need not worry, I have one greater who can deal with that, but to truly enjoy the moment that I have been blessed with...which I shall try to do!