And now I'm 50!

Woke nice and early, albeit with a slight headache – must have pulled the duvet too close to my face in my sleep. Fortunately it didn’t last long. The sunrise was glorious, you could see the lights on the ships, even!

The weekly internal debate of “I don’t wanna. But you gotta!” going back and forth until I overcame my aversion to shopping and the worst chore of the weekend was behind me in no time! Back home I treated myself to a breakfast of Rollmops on Croissant, when my Skype began to ring: My sister was calling! This brings up so many emotions, we haven’t talked in years. Let me just say: It made my day! We had a long, lighthearted chat catching up on friends and family, then my nephew came on to also wish me a happy birthday!

Then I messaged my neighbour “I’m free!” something both of us hear in the voice of the inimitable John Inman as Mr Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries in ‘Are You Being Served?’ a British comedy we both enjoy. And off we went! She tried asking me where to first, but I immediately put a stop to that! The burden of decisions was entirely on her shoulders! I would have none of that!

First she directed me to a garden center in Sherwood, what an absolute delight! Everything my heart desires: Seeds (it’s a standing joke between us that I can never go past a stand displaying seeds – I always end up bringing a pack or few home.), a bookshop! (Same problem!) then we strolled around the nursery. I came across some black pansies and immediately thought of a Goth friend who, I was sure, would love them (I was right, by the way). The vast variety of seeds proved too much a temptation and I bought a few packets. Don’t ask me where they will be sown – my beds are already overcrowded and in need to thinning out!

From there we drove on to the restaurant, where she’d booked us a table. What an amazing view! We attempted to get the full effect of the view by sitting outside – but eventually gave up as it was just too cold! Inside we were comfortable and still enjoyed the view – albeit through a window. We had a lovely time and talked for hours. Literally. Good thing we don’t run out of conversation, since it took an hour and a half before anyone took our order! The waitress did not instill confidence, and I repeated our order to make sure we’d both get food – to which she snapped “Chill out!” Yeah. That was the last time she came near our table! Once the food arrived, suddenly we seemed to have become visible! Every member of staff took turns to ask if everything was ok! For nearly two hours we had been pretty much ignored and now suddenly we couldn’t get a bite down without interruption! Enough said. I enjoyed the view and the company!

Afterwards we took a drive up the coast. At one point foam had collected like a dirty bubble bath in an inlet.

A bit further along a seagull landed near us. As I was watching it, I noticed movement on one of the rocks – it was too far to see, as it was something dark against the dark rocks. It puzzled me that it stayed long after the seagull had left, worried that it might be an animal in distress, I slowly walked towards the movement, taking photos while I went. I was relieved to see it was a bird as it flew away – after I had apparently scared the crap out of it! Literally!

Then my neighbour showed me where she grew up and told me how the area had changed. I found that extremely interesting and wished I could have stopped for a closer look. But with the sun nearly blinding me at times and the narrow, winding road making it dangerous to stop, all I could do was  turn around twice driving past for another look. Then we turned one corner and saw a whole hedge of fiery red aloes all in bloom! I stopped for photos – it almost looked like blooming fire! We just sat feasting our eyes on the glorious colouring for a while! It doesn’t show up as well on the photo, I’m afraid.

It was near five when I got home, the sun about to set and the cold about to get real. As I opened my Facebook I was overwhelmed with over 100 birthday wishes! It took quite some time to thank each and every one individually! Why do I take that time? Well, 1) I do have the time and 2) each one took the time for me, least I can do is take the time to show I have at least seen and read your message – even if I only click ‘like’. In between reading and responding to my birthday messages I took some photos of the sunset.

As it was getting really cold, hot bath and bed fairly early.