Well, what a week it has been! I write this as I snuggle up on the sofa with a steaming, black coffee, watching the snowflakes fluttering down outside. My school is closed so I’ve decided to have a cosy snow day in my PJs and I don’t feel guilty one bit!!
It’s been three days since I turned 40 and I wanted to share the fabulous few days that surrounded it. On Friday evening, (T-minus 3 days) my son - who’s 13 - took me to watch Creed III at the cinema. Technically, I took us, as I drove us there, but he’d saved some of his Christmas money to get our tickets as a treat for my birthday. It was lovely to spend some time with my almost-6-foot-teenager who, mostly, is far too cool to be seen with his mom and spends his life playing Fifa on his PS5 or on Snapchat (usually simultaneously). The film was just as epic as we’d hoped and we left the cinema feeling uplifted and
inspired (in other words, planning to join the gym and become the next Mohammed and Laila Ali). I’d been given strict instructions to keep away from my house that night and my sister had booked a hotel room for me and my son to stay in overnight. Here we are watching Family Guy. I was intrigued as to what was being planned, but I didn’t argue - it felt nice to be treated and I had a lovely sleep away from my hubby’s snoring!
The following morning, I visited Harborne Spa - which is just off the High St - for a back, neck and shoulder massage (again, planned by my wonderful sister). It was my first time there and it didn’t disappoint. Have you ever been for a massage, hoping for some peace, but the masseuse doesn’t stop talking? Or they ask you loads of questions so you can’t relax because you don’t want to feel rude if you fall asleep and ignore them?? Well, this was not one of those massages. The room was calm, warm and there was some soft, soothing music being played, and after checking the pressure was ok, my lovely massage therapist didn’t say a word… it was bliss. With my eyes closed, I’m sure I nodded off pretty quickly. I can’t remember the last time I felt so chilled. And if I dribbled/snored/farted, it certainly wasn’t mentioned when I was gently woken 45 minutes later.
So, gift bag in hand (containing a bottle of Prosecco and a box of Celebrations - thanks Harborne Spa!), I was finally allowed to return home.
Nothing makes home feel like home more than having my family in it, but the huge, lit-up 40 and claret and blue balloon arch (the colours of my beloved Aston Villa) made it feel extra special - so this is what had been happening while I was at the hotel! My mom and sister had arranged a huge buffet and there were nibbles, crisps, drinks and cakes on every surface. Oh yes. Cakes. The cake. THE cake. Not only because it had been made by Diane at Miss Lola’s Bakehouse who made our wedding cake last year, this cake could have easily been found on the glossy pages of some wedding magazine or on a celebrity’s Instagram feed (incidentally, Diane created biscuits and a cake for Jack Grealish when he turned 25, before he left Aston Villa). It was blue with claret icing, adorned with claret and blue foliage. The top tier was toffee flavoured and the bottom was lemon. Honestly, I’ve never tasted cake like this!
Suddenly, the doorbell rang and a stream of friends began to arrive. I’ve never had a surprise party and I hadn’t seen some of the guests since our wedding 11 months ago, so this was really lovely! I was so spoiled - I had cards, money and gifts, including a hamper of 40 gifts from three of my best friends. The afternoon was spent chatting, eating, laughing - all things that are good for the soul. At the end of the night, I sat down and smiled to myself at just how lucky I am to have so many people in my life who care about me. It’s not a secret that the past year has been a rollercoaster and I’ve shut myself off a lot. But these people never gave up on me, even when I was being a shitty friend.
I think I’m what the kids call ‘hashtag-blessed.’
On the day itself, my husband drove me, the two kids and the dog to Stratford-upon-Avon for the day. We love going there and we usually have an ice-cream and a ride on a boat (much to my daughter’s horror as she’s not confident in my boat-driving skills!!) but the weather wasn’t on our side unfortunately. I had a good mooch in the charity shops and we found an art gallery that displayed some works of Billy Connolly, Andy Warhol and even Johnny Depp, before we decided to head back home.
So how does 40 feel? I’m not sure, really. A bit like 39, I guess. I don’t know if I’d expected to have some magical epiphany that would strike me down and make me into someone else, but that didn’t happen. Maybe that’s because I’ve turned 40 or maybe it’s because of the snowy scene outside, but I feel calm. At peace. Hopeful.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Danielle x
ps:
Here are links for some of the things I’ve mentioned - these are personal recommendations, not affiliate links so I don’t receive anything if you click on them!
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