zahryn | Happy Birthday

I was really not excited at all about my birthday this year, 32 seemed like no big deal, I certainly don’t feel any different to the way I was when I turned 18, a few more scrapes and scars, a lot more experience perhaps, but nothing tangible I can put my finger on. On the 7th, the day before, I finally started looking forward to the day; I picked up food to take to work to celebrate, and spent the evening chatting about the passage of time online with a friend.

I slept very well after finishing “The Deathly Hallows” and had to get up after not-enough-sleep to get to work on time. I had 2 lovely birthday text messages before I even left the house and was smiling broadly when I arrived.

I got upstairs to discover that my whole desk had been decked out, with banners, balloons and streamers hung from the ceiling, things draped all over my chair & computer, and confetti EVERYWHERE. Lyn bought me Starbucks to get my day off to a good start and I was hugged copiously as various people arrived at work. I spent an hour on the phones, then came off and did some annual testing before lunch, the rest of my team (on the opposite shift to me) came in at 12pm and there was more hugging, eating and messing about.

Just before Clare-Bear and I went for lunch, Lyn pulled me into a meeting room where everyone else on my team was hiding (and a few who aren’t on my team) in the dark, they shut the door and then leapt out and shouted “SURPRISE” there was much laughing at the fact that the resulting scream from me could be heard in service down the other end of the call centre :">

I got some lovely presents, Rob & Robin outdid themselves picking stuff that I would like, I had a 4 pack of Badgers “Old Champion” which is really tasty, slightly honey-like beer, I also got a ‘happy box’ of lush smellies, bath and shower gel. I got a little bottle of “The Olive Branch” shower gel described as “reassuring shower gel to hold you in its arms and keep you safe” which smells amazing. Also I got a ‘super-glider’, a polystyrene old-fashioned glider called “Starwitch”:

It has an 18-inch wingspan and, as yet, untested glide length, but Chris and I should be heading up to Barbury Castle at some point to test it. Then, during lunch I had a lovely phone call with ‘happy birthday’ singing, which made me giggle like a dafty for the rest of the afternoon.

I actually had to work after lunch, although it was punctuated with lots of hugging and birthday wishes, two complete strangers wished me happy birthday, I later found out that they were two of our new Level 3’s (Lyns bosses bosses) so I was glad I had politely thanked them. :o)

After work I went to pick Chris up from his house, he presented me with 2 dozen home cooked muffins, 12 triple choc chip and 12 apple and cinnamon (my fav) which we took to Beths for my party. The trip to Beths was a bit of a pain, although Chris and I tend to pass time quite easily talking rubbish, the traffic was rotten and I knew she was keeping Freddie up until I got there, but we were only about 15 minutes late so not too bad. Our long-time friends Doreen and Tony were there with mum and dad and I got lots more hugging, especially from a very excited 4-year-old little boy.

I was handed a glass of schloer and a baby boy, and got caught up on everyone’s news.

The party guests….

Doreen & Mum

Dad & Beth

Chris & Tony

We drank and talked, I put Freddie to bed after a bit of crawling practice, then Beth unveiled……The Table:

We all got food, the drinking and chatting carried on until it was time for the birthday cake…A chocolate crumble cake.

I had help blowing out the candles from a very willing Alex, but after a piece of cake it was time for him to go to bed, Simon took him up and we had mild tantrums when he realised we were all staying and he had to go to bed, but he was so tired I don’t think he even lasted through a whole story. :o)

Once he was asleep, the presents came out. Mostly my family gave me money, I need to buy a new pair of walking boots because the stuffing and support has almost completely gone out of my current pair, the cards were particularly amusing and there were roars of laughter from almost all of them.

I got 3 actual presenty presents, the first one I opened was a box, a big box, and filled with the most beautiful flowers I’ve seen in a very long time. There was a moment that I thought I was going to have a little tear, but then Beth started trying to steal the pink butterfly decoration so I had to defend them with my very life…

I can’t remember ever having received flowers of this magnitude before and I was a bit speechless for a while, but soon recovered…as I tend to :o)
The next present was a complete surprise, an excellent book from the lovely

maetang “Serenity, the official visual companion” which has the motion picture screenplay, storyboards, interviews with Joss Whedon and the actors. I couldn’t wait to get into it, so I sat and geeked with Simon about it for a while:

The 3rd present was a bit more Lush stuff, specifically the “Cerridwens Cauldron” bath melts that I love to have in the bath on the odd occasion I don’t have a shower.

At about 9:30pm, after the last of the food was eaten (except the muffins, I brought most of those home) we said our goodbyes and another full round of hugging was executed, mum and dad took D&T home and I dropped Chris off before heading home.

I really have to say that was the best birthday I’ve had in a very long time. I still don’t feel any older, but I had a lovely day and a lot of fun. I did miss a few people who couldn’t be there, but they were on my mind and very close to my heart…. I have been thoroughly huggled, both physically and virtually and I feel very loved and happy.

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes, they were hugely appreciated.

*Teletubby*
"Again!! Again!!
*/Teletubby*