Happy Birthday....to me!

Hello Dear Readers,

Yesterday was my 29th birthday and what a wonderful day it was! First, unexpectedly, I got a lovely card from all my friends at the Natural History Museum and THEN they sang Happy Birthday To You. In the middle of free tea Fridays in the tea room. Though my back was to the rest of the room, apparently the director of science was there too and joined in. How fantastic! I believe I turned a brilliant shade of crimson, but it was really lovely to see how many friends I've made there in such a short time.

Shortly after my good friend from Graduate School who lives in Cambridge arrived.

Here she is, 9 months along and still has the energy to come down here and celebrate my birthday with me, what a trooper! We had an amazing day, I showed her around the back scenes at the museum (while she checked out every ladies bathroom......;-) ) and then we went up to High Street Kensington for a little Starbucks and some shopping. Later we met up with some friends at the Museum at a pub, but then had to dash off to dinner at a vegan place.

With us were Jess, Patrick, Chris, Molly, and a friend from work, Hannah, who made it all the way out despite having to pop out early because of another engagement (and I forgot to take a photo till after she left). Thanks for coming Hannah!

The food was great but the service extra slow, maybe that was just because we knew there was birthday cake waiting at home! We just made the 74 bus and rode it home and then devoured the extra special Lindon Family Traditional Birthday Cake which I made with ingredients Patrick smuggled in when he went to the US for Thanksgiving (and which I had snuck in last year to surprise Patrick).

Finally, I got tons of really sweet presents and excellent cards (Patrick and Jeff going the extra mile to personalize the cards for me...)

I love March because it means I get to stop washing my face with Coal Tar soap and start using lovely Lush products again! A friend suggested I have my own Lush spa day and I think that's exactly what I'll do today! Special bath, face mask, moisturize my skin, wash with 9-5 and toner, then finish off with a little massage on my legs which are sore from running to work 3 days last week. Notice the pair of socks I bought yesterday at UniQlo specifically for running in. They have a L and a R! No more aching feet..... I hope.

I have been working Saturdays and Sundays since December, but today I'm taking THE WHOLE WEEKEND OFF which so far has been amazing and it's only 11 am.... beautiful sunny day, I'm going to go hang the laundry out back and perhaps take a walk by the river. I may even have time for TWO posts this weekend!

Thanks for all the lovely birthday wishes everyone, and a special shout out to Susan Clarks's mother who I found out reads this blog! I think that brings the readership up to 5? I'm doing better than Car Talk!