Another special night with special friends!

My "goddess" friends surprised me with an impromptu marking of my birthday...or shall I say birth-month?! We met at Caren's place and after so much sadness and heartache over the last month, it was amazing to see them again - still overflowing with love!

 

 

 

Standing in abundance - what a blessing to receive this gift of feminine energy, grace and of friendship and unconditional love!

 

 

 

A special day with friends...

A special place,

soul friends,

shared connections.

Oh, time has wings!

The last of summer days,

all is love.

Blessed!

I have enough.

Anne-marie 

Same time, same place next year?

Many birthdays :)

So, every year around the middle of January, I start reminding those I love that my birthday is imminent. I create a little count down, and every day, my partner is greeted with: "And whose birthday is it in 3 weeks time?!"



Two weeks prior to my B-day I was surprised with a weekend in Paternoster on the West Coast :)

Clearly, this approach holds many benefits: There is an increase in the level of wining and dining and the quality of entertainment is at an all time high. I have also noticed that the gifts tend to become more in volume and generosity :)

On the day, a breakfast at the One&Only with a Spa appointment afterwards...



Mom and me for a compulsory celebratory cappuccino!



Brother and I for the first leg of of the "after-birth-day" celebrations



Our family being entertained with a flambe crepe Suzette...

The hero of the special celebrations is my partner, who tirelessly works every year to make this the best one ever. As part of my campaign, I always assure him that this is the case, as it seems to motivate him enourmously for the next year!

When You are Old

 

by W. B. Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars

I just absolutely love my birthday....cannot wait for the next one!

Pre-birthday party...

Had a lovely day with the family, sharing my precious nephew's pre-birthday celebration. The usual ceremony had to be concluded, as the family will be traveling on his 5th birthday tomorrow:

1. A mock candle blow-out...don't ask!
2. A passionate, yet disturbing rendition of "happy birthday"
3. A speech by the man of the hour, in which he declared his happiness for having us, especially since we brought presents :)



My bro and his lovely family

The singing....at least we had my dad to help!

And the candle blowing...very important!

And the necessary wrestling in between :)

Grandma and me...



The crown prince ready to share his riches...

No sharing on this front...

OK, no sharing...period!

His other aunt and her better half....





After some hard partying, all a man needs is his grandpa's support!