I Love Birthdays

It was my birthday on Saturday!  I had hoped that the Duchess of Cambridge's baby would be born on my birthday...but it wasn't.  None the less, I had the most perfect day.

Firstly and absolutely the best-ly was the weather which was glorious, gorgeous, hot and totally perfect.  Next and quite the best was my lovely husband with breakfast in bed and a deliciously large pile of presents all for me.  He gave me a jelly-bag holder (I thought it was fab, you may need to do some investigations to discover what this mystery item looks like/is, but you'll probably still be slightly confused at my excitement!) and the most fabulous mustard coloured quilted jacket which is waiting impatiently  to be worn as soon as the weather returns to its usual tricks.

I was generally quite thoroughly spoiled.  Sadly no photographic evidence, as I was busy extremely enjoying flopping about in my pyjamas and not having to get dressed.

I then did a bit of cooking and preparing for a little gathering I had organised for the evening.

(yummmmmm)

My lovely friends arrived in dribs and drabs through the afternoon and we sat in the sun drinking elderflower presse and catching up.

Once we had everyone, we cracked open a couple of bottles of the wedding bubbles to celebrate (Alicia's recent receipt of a First! (as well as my birthday)) and the real party got under way.

I blew out my candles very elegantly.

And ate far too much cake.

It was so worth it though.  It was a bit of an invention-y twist on Pavlova - a big meringue (just slightly gooey in the centre; perfect) with roasted hazelnuts hidden inside, covered with a thick layer of dark chocolate ganache, topped with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

Oh boy.

Yikers.

Check your heart is still beating.

We carried on rather late into the night...

...no faces allowed in the morning photographs, but we carried on the celebration with a hefty breakfast al fresco.

The perfect end to a fabulous birthday!