Never mind subtle - IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!

I was going to try to be very subtle and coy and quietly mention that IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!!!!! However, I've had such a lovely day that subtlety be blown - I wanna show off :)

First up, did I mention that I was going to see FRENCH AND SAUNDERS very very soon as a birthday pressie from my lovely long-suffering husband?! Oh, I did?

At 6.45 I was descended upon by sleepy small people - my lovely babies chose me a big chunky turquoisy blue necklace, a funny DVD and some lovely new nightclothes :) Minx was almost bursting as she was desperate to tell me what they had bought. She's not a natural keeper of secrets :)

Then, I opened a parcel from my lovely blog friend Gina and couldn't quite believe my eyes - she posted this gorgeous clutch bag on her blog last week and I adored it then - now it's mine....all mine....!!!!! Thank you so much Gina xxxxx

I then opened another part of the fabulous present that Leigh and her (MY) Mum sent to me, all the way from Tennessee!! Some beautiful fat quarters that Minx is trying hard to lay claim to - I've told her to 'gerroff they're mine!!'.

Thank you Leigh and Mum :) xxxxx They're beautiful and every time I look at my beautiful bird house I smile :)

Whilst on the phone to Locket this morning, Mr Postie arrived. Locket was very excited as she knew he had something special in his bag for me.

Poor man. I was even more jumpy up and down on the doorstep than usual.

He failed to notice that most of my mail was 'card-like' or had 'THE BIRTHDAY GIRL' written on it - I was expecting at least a cursory 'Happy Birthday Madam' from him - aaah, customer service ain't what it used to be...

What he did give me was this gorgeous bundle:

This was all unceremoniously torn open whilst squealing ultrasonically on the phone to Locket - the sender of this pile of treasure :)

She knows I'm partial to a bit of turquoise.

Who could this be?

He's been suitably named by Minx et moi.

It's Leif - a bunny chok full of yummy turquoiseness - called Leif 'cos of his leaves - not 'cos I'm a Leif Garrett fan ( although I may have been briefly). His little friend made of knit is called Edgar and he even has a scrumptious turquoise carrot to nibble on :)

He was accompanied by more turquoiseness

and even some beautiful redness! At last, I have a respectable pin cushion to share with the world!!

Thank you soooo much Lucy - love you!!!

I also got some beautiful cards from my lovely bloggy friends - including my Tennessee Mum :)

Something else that meant the world to me today was receiving phone calls from my two lovely Aunties - my Mum's sisters.

Aunty M even sang Happy Birthday to me in the same out of tune manner as Mum used to - we are never going to be the Von Trapp Family singers in my family!! Mum always used to say she was the only person who could sing in tune with Les Dawson's piano playing - and she was right!

They even sent me a beautiful bouquet :)

At midday I went out for a scrummy lunch with my lovely friend Kayla.

We were having such a lovely time that I almost forgot I had to pick the naughty ones up at 2.15 as we all had a dental appointment.....on my birthday!! What can I say, it was the only appointment I could get!

This mini downturn in events carried on a bit.

Leftover bolognese for dinner:

Co-op sponge cakes for my 'birthday cake'! ( two for £1.20 mind you!!).

The situation improved rapidly thanks to this :)

....and some of these ( matter of taste, I know, but I loves 'em so there and it's my birthday so there!!)

Another blogger shares her birthday with me - all the best people do ( ;) ) - so go say Happy Birthday to WMK too - she's got a fab Wikipedia link and the very best birthday song I've even seen!!!

Off now to drink a glass or three :)