a Bowie birthday

At the weekend I headed down south for Eve's 30th - a birthday picnic and sports day style games in the park dressed as her idol Bowie (thank god she didn't choose her other idol Alice Cooper).

I wasn't sure how much effort I'd make, but getting ready at Eve's meant I got carried away and went full on with red hair and pale, bold make up. Eve looked ace and her boyfriend almost (but not quite) stole the show from her with his efforts in drag!

It was fun walking the streets of London in fancy dress, but the feeling of being coated in all sorts of crap got to me after a while so I removed it for the evening in a pub. (That and the fact that all bar one of my fellow Brooke folk dressed up and I'd sweated the majority off anyway).

I rarely catch buses in London but it was the easiest way to Eve's. I'm not too familiar with east London so I loved driving through Stoke Newington. I discovered so much more than I had before, with loads of cute cafés and vintage stores. Clissold Park, which we made home for the day, was lovely too with ponds, deer, a pretty house (complete with pretty bride) and lots more that I'm yet to explore. I just love London parks and feel like sometimes greenery is even more accessible in London than when actually living in the country. They're just the best at parks - and by they I mean the Victorian's!

So, in summary:

• I really, really miss having London on my doorstep
• The Brooke was perhaps the best decision I ever made, they employ the greatest people 
• I wish I could have been teleported into my bed with my baby in the morning
• I realise I'm leaving the London part of me behind - I forgot my oyster (again)
• I'm turning into one of those mums, you know, the ones that show pictures and videos of their babies and talk about poo. A lot. To people that came to an East London girls birthday. Enough said.
• I will consider spending more to buy an open return next time, or just come to terms with my body clock running three hours earlier than it used to
• I miss sitting next to Eve everyday and singing the Friday song
• I'm pondering opening my own re-fillable wine store up north

Layla's 30th celebrations

Last weekend was spent celebrating Layla's 30th. Saturday was a BBQ with friends, Sunday a walk in Rushcliffe Country Park and Monday a picnic and boat ride at Rutland Water followed by a family dinner in Newark.

It was hit and miss whether we'd all be able to make it as Hugo had been incredibly poorly with sickness the week leading up to it. We managed to attend in the end but mum was poorly for the party. We don't think it was linked to Hugo, but she sure came out in sympathy which was really rubbish.

I couldn't think of a good present for Layla, without it being an 'experience' and whilst that would be great, time is not on my side at the moment and I couldn't justify what I'd want to do as it would involve treating both me and Layla! So, instead of having to think of one decent present, I decided to buy 30 smaller presents, so that there was a fun element to the pressie opening at least.

Me and mum weren't able to plan too much, but we made sure there was a piñata, balloons, Layla face masks and a childhood birthday inspired picnic in a birds box during the celebrations.

30 seemed a bigger stage for Layla than for most, I feel like it's the age that she'll just live, rather than working towards something - her degree, PGCE, NQT year or masters. We never really celebrated the later few of her achievements, so the weekends activities felt even more important. Plus, the party was also a house warming as they officially moved from London into their cottage the week before.

If you're interested, here's a link to Layla's attempt of achieving a list of 30 things before she reached 30. The one I'm most envious of is travelling to 30 countries. I'd have my work cut out to do that in the next 3.5 years! I wonder what my own list would look like.. I do love lists.