TeamChallis: Week 62 - My birthday

Monday was a UkuleleLand practice. We had hoped Naomi would be with us, but an arm injury kept her away. The weather was pretty damp and blustery still, so we were in Geoff's garage.

On Tuesday evening, Bunnykins asked if she could do some baking. Mark was out to get the groceries and I needed a shower (I ran at lunch) and was then on a call with John, so she got on with it pretty much independently. The result was some delicious muffins that she topped with edible glitter - just because. She had made them for my birthday breakfast in the morning which was really lovely of her.

Wednesday was my birthday. Mornings are pretty hectic, but there was time to have the muffins that Bunnykins had made and open some presents.

Carmel and Bunny guarding the muffins....

Bunnykins had made me a lovely card

She had also made a little house for my mini-mixel figure. It has a recording studio downstairs and a relaxing area upstairs (with bookcase) and then a stage on the roof 😍.

I was working, but it was mainly meetings which weren't too bad. You get a day of birthday leave but I had decided to take it next week when the girls are off on half term. Mark had ordered some flowers for me which was lovely, but even more lovely was that he did all the faffing around with them 😊.

We walked over to the park for lunch and even had lunch inside which was a good treat as it wasn't the most pleasant of days weather wise. It was definitely a "can't make it's mind up" kind of day. I do look back on my birthdays and seem to remember them as always having good weather. I think the lateness of the relentless cold, wet, grey weather this year has been unusual.

I got some other lovely presents and cards. The card from Stella made me smile.

When we were growing up we would write to each other lots, and then on into university and when I lived overseas. I would know her writing anyway, but her envelopes were always covered in the most delightful, heart warming graffiti...things like "Hurry Mr Postie 😀" or "Ooops my pen ran out!" or whatever. 🖃💕

The evening was fairly pleasant. Mark had bought a supermarket fakeaway curry. We sat out to eat which was nice.

No cake, but I got a candle in my cookie....

I wanted to stay out and read. I got a blanket and a beer and my book and was happy for a good hour or so.

Thursday was Bunnykin's sports day and final day of term. This year we weren't allowed to go. I was a bit upset about it. I have always really enjoyed sports day, they tend to fall in my birthday week and have good weather. I get to hang around with Hannah for the day and cheer on my girls. Two years ago (when Bunnykin's was year 4 and Woo was in secondary) I had missed sports day due to work. Bunnykins had been really upset and took it to mean that I didn't care, that I only came to watch Woo. I had promised her that I would not miss another. Then of course we had 2020 and covid-19...so no sports day last year as they weren't even at school.

This year, they had sports day, but no parents allowed. Bunnykins got a first on the obstacle race.

At the end of the day, the yr 6 leavers committee gave out the hoodies and got some pictures of them for the year book. I took some pictures when Bunnykins got home.

Ben came over. His patio had been constructed during the day, which had all been a bit manic and frankly I was glad it was all finished and paid and I wasn't going to have any more calls from Wallace.

It was a lovely sunny and calm day, so we were really glad to sit outside and just be calm and peaceful.

Friday was another damp day, Bunnykins read in her room and worked on dolls house crafts.

As my treat for our Friday tea, I had requested Fondue. This is what Woo requests every time she is asked what she wants to eat!

Scramble for the final bits of cheese...

We then had the chocolate fondue for pudding which is just yum yum yum!

In the evening, it was Woo's choice of film which was 2Fast2Furious. I can't say it held my interest much. One of my presents from Mark was some impressive houseplants (pots on their way). So I took some bad selfies with my new plant.

Saturday was the start of a long weekend - and one where the weather was promised to be good. Mark was up early for a run into town.

He was back pretty early. I went out into the garden and was hard at work weeding for a couple of hours.

I then nipped over to Ben's. I wanted to check out the new patio and talk to him about what he should do next (give him a list of jobs 😀).

It was nice to sit and have a chat. I have never been in Ben's house before and this time I was only walking through, but the space in the back was welcoming in comparison to the jungle it had been and I can see how we can make it even better.

I got home and did some more work out in our garden. Woo came out to help Mark with some jobs including her favourite shredding task.

I went for a shower and got myself smartened up.

Hannah came over and we sat under the pergola. We were of course soon joined by her biggest fans...

She had booked us a meal at the happy place and it was a lovely evening for walking down there.

We had our usual...a bottle of prosecco and a burger each.

We did treat ourselves to pudding to, it being for my birthday and all.

Sunday morning was glorious. Mark and Woo went off to volunteer at park run. I sat in the morning sunlight having my breakfast and listening to the birds.

The garden was looking gorgeous with peonies, poppies and roses seeming to have burst into flower overnight.

Bunnykins had come out to sit outside and read.

Mark and Woo went off to frisbee. I did some pottering around the garden and sorted the laundry. Then I sat a while to read.

Woo had made me a bookmark for my birthday, it was only a day or so late, but was entirely lovely.

When Mark and Woo got back we went over for a hatch lunch.

In the afternoon, Mark and I did some planning for the garden. We are trying to figure out how to create a water feature for a slightly awquard triangular spot. I have lots of ideas, but it has to be practical...I mean it also has to be good, but practical or at least buildable is important!