Please note, in this post I talk about my family who came to visit me on my birthday. I would like to make it clear that all visits were done safely, and at a social distance; there was no human contact. All birthday hugs are banked and ready for when we are officially told they can happen.
Since the second half of last year I have been proactively deciding on what it is I wanted to do this year given it's milestone and there were various ideas thrown around including a family holiday, a meal in a nice restaurant, day out in London to see a show, until I finally settled on organising a big party instead! Planning it was so much fun. So many lists were written, so many ideas of what I wanted - theme, music, food, drinks on arrival, but most importantly, I just wanted everyone to get drunk with me and dance the night away!
When this year began, things started to get serious! It was all about what dress I was going to wear, and I ended up buying two, knowing full well they weren't the end of my search! The plans were all going well until we went into lockdown and I was suddenly hit with the prospect of spending my birthday, not only indoors, but also on my own.
I won't lie, at first I was gutted and really upset about it, despite trying to find the positive in the situation, and there was a part of me that was secretly hoping by this weekend, some sort of relaxed arrangement would have been made by the Government, but unfortunately, we are still in lockdown.
As the weeks went by, I got more used to the idea that my party wouldn't go ahead and the day I had to send out messages to everyone to let them know I made the decision to let it be and arrange one as when it would be safe to do so.
I had an inkling my family were planning something to still make it special for me, but I wasn't entirely sure what they were cooking up given the restrictions we had in place, but oh my goodness, they did not fail!
It all started on Thursday when my friend, Chelsey dropped off a present and some flowers at my front door. Next, followed on the same day, were two more flower deliveries, one from my aunty and the other from my work colleagues.
I then received another delivery on Friday from my sister who arranged a pre-birthday pamper package for me including face masks, exfoliation scrub, moisturiser, pjs, chocolate, a bottle of cider, nail varnish and nail files. That was a real spoil!
Saturday saw three more deliveries, including a case of champagne and some social distancing conversations with a couple of friends (at different times). Honestly, by the evening, I was already feeling so spoilt and loved, it was unbelievable.
Sunday (10th) was my birthday and I woke up to a flurry of Whatsapp and Facebook messages. I was actually awake really early - I think it was the excitement of it being my birthday! I opened the cards I had received in the post and the present Chelsey dropped off for me and indulged in a morning latte!
By 10.30am, my mum had arrived at my house. I knew she was coming round so I had unlocked my back gate so she could let herself in and wow, was my garden full of surprises! Beautiful pink flowers, a bag of presents, a food hamper, an amazing birthday cake and of course, a bottle of bucks fizz! Whilst she was visiting, another delivery arrived, this time, two big bunches of flowers from my local garden centre. One from my friend, Sally, who I used to live with, and the other was from my family. I was in tears! I couldn't believe how beautiful this all was! It was really hard saying goodbye to my mum because I really wanted her to stay all day, but we both knew this was only going to be a quick visit - and little did I know a family zoom call was coming later on anyway!
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| Flowers received from my family |
A couple of hours later, and after my mum had gone home, my sister arrived. Again, my garden was full of more gifts, 40th birthday bunting and giant silver helium filled 40 balloons that were blowing all over the place! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. As I was going through the unwrapping of my presents, I received another notification on my phone and it was something my sister said she was sending to me. Well, this wasn't just any message. She had only gone and organised a video message for me to watch of my friends and family wishing me happy birthday. Talk about emotional! I was an absolute mess as I watched family and friends from all over the world wishing me a happy 40th! I was absolutely blown away.
Later on that day, there was a knock on my front window and on opening the door, there was a big box of presents in front of me and in a car outside my house was my brother, his wife and my two nephews all wishing me happy birthday! I sat outside while they all stayed in the car and watched me open my presents and enjoyed a frozen mojito which they had organised to be delivered to my house! What a spoil!
After they had left I went back inside my house and thought about organising something to eat, afterall, I had been drinking all day so it was much needed. As I started to get some food together, the next flurry of events took place, only this time, it was all on zoom. A call with my aunties, a mass family call and ending with catch up with my uni friends. Before I knew it, the day had gone and it was 10pm at night!
By that time I was absolutely exhausted, but SO unbelievably happy. I got into my pj's, made myself a cup of tea and finally got round to reading all the messages that had been sent to me throughout the day. It certainly wasn't the birthday I had planned, but there's no doubt about it, I couldn't have been anymore spoilt. Thoughtfully written cards, so many bottles of champagne and prosecco, flowers, jewellery, photos...I am so overwhelmed.
Thankfully I had yesterday and today off work too, and I can't tell you how much I needed it! I've spent the last few days trying to take it all in and spend time looking at all the wonderful presents I've received, and read all the lovely cards I have been sent. Of course, I have also watched the video messages over and over again - that is one I will treasure for the rest of my life!
Overall, I have to say, turning 40 during a lockdown, wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Infact, it was better! I am so bloody lucky to have the most amazing friends and family in my life and I absolutely cannot wait until I can see them all again.
Thank you to everyone of you for making my 40th birthday such a special day. I love you all so much xxx
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| My birthday cake! |
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