Gingerbread Life - August 2020

Well the global pandemic has brought many changes to lives around the world one are the many birthdays that have been celebrated in lockdown.  I had faith that my family’s batch of August birthdays wouldn’t be affected but they have.  

As much as I’d like to celebrate Mamilein’s birthday in person we have, as many have, had to make do with Skype chats and FaceTime calls. It’s not the same but it is birthdays in 2020.  The beginning of August is Mamilein’s birthday but she also squeezes in her Namenstag (who doesn’t celebrate their name?) a couple of days later.  Always wanting to be the centre of attention she has struggled with having a birthday in lockdown.  When asked what they planned to do for her birthday “nothing!”  Was the response and that is just what they did.  We all called and played music.  We sent her some birds for her Christmas tree (although I now realise that the tree is in my garage) and made a virtual fuss of her.

Happy Birthday Mamilein

Another morning, another birthday.  From across the miles I wished my biglilbro a happy birthday he is now officially in his forties.  I have known him all his life (hee hee) and watched him develop from a snotty teenager to a grumpy old man.  He has always been spoiled rotten on his birthday, he got the brand name shoes, I got the key ring.  He got the roller blades, I got the knee pads.  Not that I am bitter because now I am officially the favourite child. This year, due to the enormous custom charges from the US postal services he received no gifts from us.  £20 gift £90 in taxes, not worth it.  Hopefully soon we’ll be able to celebrate together.  Our next round of birthdays is November, let’s see what Covid brings then.

Happy Birthday Biglilbro 

August Photo Challenge

I thought I'd give this a go, it'll keep me out if trouble if nothing else.

Day 1 - My Handwriting

Day 2 - Hands

Day 3 - Water

Day 4 - A Picture Of Me

Day 5  - Something I Made

Day 6  - A Favourite Place

Day 7 - In My Bag

Day 8 - A loved Activity

Day 9 - Transportation

Day 10 - What I Wore

Day 11 - Landscape

Day 12 - From A Distance

Day 13 - A Bad Habit

Day 14 - Clouds

Day 15 - Green

Day 16 - High Angle

Day 17 - Low Angle

Day 18 - My Shoes

Day 19 - Something Blue

Day 20 - Dinner Tonight

Day 21 - Summertime

Day 22 - Sunset

Day 23 - Eyes

Day 24 - A Mess

Day 25 - Dressed Up

Day 26 - Black & White

Day 27 - Fruit

Day 28 - Something Orange

Day 29 - Something Pink

Day 30 - Close Up

Day 32 - Mail

Summer Bucket List 2015

After the success of my Christmas Bucket List, I had decided to make myself a summer version.  I look forward to checking of my list,  some I have already.

UPDATE

I managed most of my bucket list, although I didn't go on a blue ride (too many bike related accidents this year),  paint a picture, or watch any outdoor theatre.  There's always next year.

It's My Birthday!

"Happy 35th Birthday!"  G.O whispered at 12.01am this morning, I smiled sleepily and then went back to sleep.  Only to sit bolt upright and say "What do you mean? 35!" 

"Yes, that's what app on my phone says,!"  He replied, "I'm 38!" He looked sheepish and a little confused.  He is 34 and I am 3 years (4 years now, until November) older than he is, what is confusing about that? "Ah he said, stupid app!"

G.O made up for it though in the morning (the real morning, not stupid o'clock) by presenting me with my gift (a Kindle HD, I have wanted one for a while now, I have too many books, and yes you  can have too many books!) and a beautiful heartfelt card. 

 

Last year I didn't receive a card, I was told it was at work" and that he would get it to me when he returned to work.  I never got the card that said "Happy Birthday to my wife" on my first birthday as someone's wife.  This is still a sore spot as you can tell.

 

We lounged around the house, I replied to Facebook and text messages and Skyped my parents in Germany.  The we decided to go out for a spot of lunch.  I have always wanted to go to the Crazy Bear restaurant in Stadhampton.  It is a wonderful kooky place with a bear hidden in the ceiling and reception housed in a double decker red bus.  When we arrived I looked everywhere for someone to talk to but the place was deserted, just as I was about to give up a man emerges from the floor, I should have looked down!  "We have no places available all weekend, you should have booked!"  "We were just passing anyway!" I lied. 

 

Just when I thought my fate was to go to the all you can eat Chinese buffet and partake in a spot of ten pin bowling, like a spotty teenager (I love bowling, I'm just being dramatic) I remembered a pub that we had visited years ago.  It have a lovely garden with lots of nooks and crannies, you can sit around the table behind a hedge and never be seen by another sole again.  G.O couldn't remember a thing, even as we pulled into the car park he wasn't convinced he had ever been there before.  As we walked through the garden and he saw the  building he said "I do remember this place we sat over there!" 

The place hadn't changed much, it has a very chilled, calm vibe and as we arrived we were greeted by the landlady who showed us to a table tucked away in a nook by the, thankfully unlit, fire.  The menu was simple,  I can't cope when there is a lot of choice, and they had a set menu to choose from.  I went for the dressed crab and Sea bass, with crushed potatoes and G.O  had the risotto and belly pork.  (Simple menu but it still took the pair of us ten minutes to remember what had to eat).  We sat and chatted, putting the world to rights as only we can, we made some exciting decisions (I won't share just yet)  one of which was that we would make the Mole Inn our new local, everyone needs a place that they always go to, Pizzeria Venezia anybody?