Michael's 38th birthday

Happy Birthday Michael!!

Thankfully Charlotte didn't wake up once last night so we all had an uninterrupted night's sleep. I think Michael felt that was a good birthday present. He didn't have much else at 5.30am, although I had left out his birthday cards, the parcel from Mum and Dad (2 books on wine), a bottle of red wine I got him and the fruit cake. I'd also made him a Orange Poppyseed Cake (from Super Food Ideas magazine August 2005) last night to take to work today.

The rest of us slept in...Charlotte woke at 7.45am and I had to wake Lily up as she was out to it. We made it to school on time (just) and Lily was ok going inside, thankfully. Dropped Charlotte off at garderie and I was free to dash into town for our picnic supplies for tonight (I bought Michael a picnic blanket and as a surprise I have organised a babysitter and we are going down to the Lake, just him and I, for a picnic). Unfortunately the books I'd ordered for the girls to give to Daddy for his birthday (Lonely Planet Croatia and a guide book to Switzerland) didn't arrive in today's post. Hopefully tomorrow.

When Michael got home from work this afternoon I'd just finished making Scones for him, from the crazy recipe that Uncle Al passed onto me from Cousin Sal made with lemonade and thickened cream. He didn't have time to eat them then as Leif rang, then Mum and Dad on Skype.

Other good things that have been happening
* I went to the second hand store (5th Avenue) where I had dropped stuff off for them to sell in June (they put a price on all these things - bags, clothes, sunglasses etc) and I get 60% and they get 40%). All but 4 items had sold - they gave me back a black backpack (it was slightly damaged) and a pair of pink pants I had made in HK (no reason for returning them), and kept a pair of sunglasses and a little wallet thing. And they gave me Sf 124 for the stuff they had actually sold. Nice one.

* The woman who picked up the Apricot and Coconut Balls on Wednesday morning sent me an email this morning saying 'I'm hooked' (obviously seeing me in my dressing gown didn't put her off) and ordering Best Ever Chocolate Brownies and Fudge Brownie Cookies (I'd given her one on Wed) for this Sunday.

* When I went to pick up Charlotte from garderie yesterday, Yasmine and Anya made a big fuss of Lily (first time Anya has seen Lily since the last day of garderie). And Yasmine asked me to stay a minute as she wanted to ask me something. When she did, she wrote it down so Lily wasn't aware. Her note said 'If Lily wants to come sometimes on Tuesday or Thursday afternoon or for lunch, it's OK'. Yasmine apologised for her English (no problems there I thought) and her message was very lovely and appreciated.

So, all we need now is for the children to go straight to sleep for the babysitter and for the rain to by-pass us. It's going to be a fun night, I hope...wine, bread, cheese, olives, chicken, tabouli, more cheese, salad, those Greek rolled vine leaves things, and for dessert nectarines, blackberries and Apricot and Coconut Balls (which Michael never gets as they are always for someone else).