Sunday, May 19, 2013

a birthday post, looking back, owing you an apology

It's my birthday tomorrow. I'M NOT FORTY YET!!

This is the most relevant thing.

I've been looking back at birthday posts, it's been fun.

In 2009 I had a list of birthday loveliness which made me feel warm and fuzzy reading it again. And sad that this year my Grandad won't be phoning me.

In 2010 I was a new second-time mum and still had time to list 35 things ... why don't I have that kind of time now??
Also I realised I still bake pretty much the same things for birthdays ... then:


And now (taken this afternoon): there was also gin again, but why wouldn't there be right?


And use the same crockery.

In 2011 I was pretty low-key but got unnecessarily shirty with someone in the comments. Silly me.

And last year we were too busy doing this to celebrate, blog or indeed even really notice my birthday.

I think I've another birthday contemplation type post brewing, or maybe not, but the thing which struck me while reading back in time was how many readers left really lovely comments, which I never responded to. I know my whole blogging philosophy here is to just write, without thinking about who's reading it and what they necessarily think about it, but it strikes me now as arrogant that I didn't even say thank you for lovely warm birthday messages, and only deigned to respond when someone irked me a bit.
I'm sure I've alienated readers over the years for doing that, and while I'm still blogging like nobodies reading, on a human level I think I've been a bit rude. I apologise.

See? Older and wiser.

Friday, May 17, 2013

lists of 5: 'cos no other number will do

My fancy Jo'burg manicure is starting to fade and chip, I could poetically say like my memories of the weekend but that wouldn't be true.
My memories are still clear and still fabulous.

My cat is asleep nestled into my neck like a newborn as I type this, making little huffs and snuffles as she cuddles in. Just like a baby.
My friend in Jo'burg will have a baby just like this (though hopefully less hairy) in a few short weeks and while I'm not envious in the slightest of the newborn part, I did get a taste again of that excitement of meeting someone new. Someone new but yet of you in the profoundest sense possible. There can't be anything else much in life which beats that.

My birthday cake is sinking slowly in the kitchen. It's one of a few birthday cakes I've planned actually, as I have more than one (though both little) celebratory events in the pipeline - both involving cake. I've been baking and prepping at a slow and steady pace all week and really enjoying it (I don't allow myself to bake often these days), but I do worry that instead of clever this will prove to have been not clever, and everything will be a little stale and naff.
The carrot cake will definitely, judging by it's current appearance, be a little sunken and naff. But I also trust, delicious.

My children are exposing me to people who are teaching me things about myself. Yes, my children are bringing people into my life. That alone is a strange thought. Stranger still is the notion that they are people through whom I'm being challenged. More on this soon I imagine.

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. No, not really. Not really at all, I just think that's such a weird and nonsensically fabulous line. Which I'd never otherwise have a chance to use!

Friday, May 10, 2013

making tracks

I'm off to Joburg tomorrow to spend a few days with one of my best friends.






It's been too long, it'll be too short. And I couldn't be happier to be doing it.