Julia turns 40...

Julia hit the big 40 on Friday 18th, so on Saturday 19th she had organised a dinner at River Cottage - home of the Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall food machine. Most people headed down on Friday night but as it was Jackie's birthday on Saturday, Simon and I drove down on Saturday. Well technically he drove...

After a bit of confusion we met up with them all in Seatown (note: Seaton is not the same as Seatown...). But getting there, and then finding them took us through a good few counties - Surrey, Wiltshire, (saw Stonehenge from the car!), Dorset, Somerset, Devon...

The meal was just lovely - we were in the farmhouse, so it was a bit like a private dining room. Gorgeous food, and great company. I think perhaps staying up really late and drinking whisky once we were back in our house was perhaps not the best idea. Def felt the worse for wear on Sunday! I don't think I was much company for Simon on the trip back...

I'm sure most of you will have seen the photos on fb, so won't repost any.

Another birthday and a few orchids...

Twas another weekend with a birthday theme as on Friday night I was out with Divya to celebrate her birthday - we went to the Salt Yard which I've been to a few times and really like. We were half an hour late for our table but fortunately they had kept it for us! It was another lovely meal, but not a late night for us - we were both exhausted!

Saturday I met up with David, Dominic, Chris and James at Kew for the 'Tropical Extravaganza' - the (annual I guess) display of the flowering orchids. Absolutely gorgeous flowers - really stunning. And both Chris and David were full of stories of having had orchids in the past and killing them. Reminded me of Leigh! Apparently James has the knack...

It was well worth the trip. Very cool. We also checked out the Marianne North Gallery as well - again just stunning. She had the most amazing life - travelled all over the world (including NZ) and painted the plants, landscapes etc. Didn't start until she was 40 and spent the next 14 years globe trotting. Really quite inspirational - and the newly revamped gallery was beautifully done, and really quite incredible.

Yet again, Kew has not failed to disappoint. Check out the orchid piccies on Flickr if you haven't already seen them on fb.

Birthday bashes and Paris...

So February started with a weekend of two birthday events. First up was Sarah's at the Alphabet Bar in Soho - I rarely go out in town on Saturday nights so it was both fun, and also a reminder of why I don't do it very often - loads of drunken young things and drunken tourists staggering around. Not always my idea of a good time!

Second up was lunch for Nicola's birthday at The White Hart - service left a little bit to be desired, but it was a lovely afternoon. Much red wine was drunk by all which is always fun I think!

And I'm just back from a quick visit to Paris for work - my second ever trip for work. The work stuff was so-so, but it was fun to go on the Eurostar again and I did have a lovely 'traditional' French dinner last night of steak with bearnaise sauce and an exquisite creme brulee!

Another year older...

So I turned another year older - and a very quiet birthday it was too. I went out on the Saturday night to help Mhairi celebrate her birthday. She had several cake themed gifts which was quite funny (she is the cake baker extraordinaire...)!

Sunday I opened a few presents - despite not wanting to do anything for my birthday people still spent money on me, and I did get some lovely gifts. And they are still rolling in - which of course I'm enjoying :-). I headed up about lunchtime on the train to Swansea to start my next 'staycation' in Mumbles. Very interesting as once I got past Bristol Parkway it was all new territory for me... I had a wee doze on the way up, and managed to completely miss the Severn Tunnel - I didn't even realise I'd been through one until Divya's husband Lee mentioned it to me!

My birthday evening was low key but good - drank wine and watched the final of The Apprentice - just what I wanted to do!!

This time one year ago...

Lindsey had just arrived down from Glasgow to help me celebrate my 40th, and Tracey had been here a few days already. Hard to believe that is a year ago now - I'm looking down the barrel of being 41 and I'm not sure where the last year has gone...

Anyhow, this year my birthday will be very different as I'm not doing anything. Just haven't had the energy or inclination to celebrate it at all. Weird - I thought I would feel like this last year, rather than two years on, but I'm just not bothered about doing anything for it. I am out tomorrow night to help Mhairi celebrate her birthday (which is today) and we're having our 4th annual 'June Babies' drinks for work on June 19th so that will be enough for me.

And on Sunday I'm heading back up to Wales to spend a few days with Divya and Tarun - I'm not sure exactly where I'm going tho - I get the train to Swansea, that much I do know! Somewhere around Mumbles I think... So I'll be off line until next Friday anyhow, but look out for updates and photos then.

Cool cooking

The cooking class was great. Really good fun. Small group - only 10 of us around a table, sharing out the chopping/mixing etc. Jennifer (the instructor) did all the cooking, although Mhairi did get up and make the fish cakes. But the way the food was cooked was very straightforward - and obviously the salads didn't need any cooking!

The food was delicious - I just now need to be brave enough to try and make it myself! All very simple recipes - very tasty as well. I didn't realise until the end of the evening that the classes were actually held in the instructor's flat. She had made it anonymous enough that it was immediately obvious.

All in all, a very good present - even if it was taken up almost a year on!

Busy birthdays

Was a social butterfly weekend just gone. First up on Friday night was Nicola's birthday - had she been fortunate enough to be born in New Zealand she would never have to work on her birthday... But as she's English... Anyhow she had drinks at Somerstown Coffee House - very cool pub by Euston. Bit out of the way, but easy for me to get home from, and its a great venue. Mhairi had originally taken us there a few months ago, so it was nice to get a return visit.

Saturday night was Sarah's birthday, and it was off back into town for me to Clerkenwell Green - which isn't a 'Green' at all, and according to Wikipedia hasn't had any grass for 300 years... However it is home to some rather nice pubs, and we had some drinks and tapas at The Green. Very nice evening again - somewhat enlivened by posh kids running through the pub - guess thats what you do to kill time on a Sat night if you are posh of Clerkenwell...

Sunday 8th June...

VERY slow day for me... But we tidied up before we left - but lugging all my presents home was hard work when I was really suffering...

But it was worth it :-)

Debris

Debris (1)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

What a lot of empty bottles - where did it all go??

Lindsey the morning after

Lindsey the morning after
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Essential kit for the morning after - sunglasses! Now where is the Irn Bru...

Simon the morning after

Simon the morning after
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

The host no doubt relieved that it is all over with!

Post party brunch

Post party brunch
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

I tried to eat - but it was pretending more than anything!

7th June - now why is that important again...?

It's my birthday of course!!

I had a fantastic day. It fell on a Sat and as it was a momentous age I decided to 'reclaim' my day - the theme was 'Its all about me...' and it absolutely was!

Lindsey came down from Glasgow on the Friday night, so on Sat morning I had a chilled out time with her and Tracey opening all the presents my wonderful family had given Tracey to bring over, plus the ones from Lindsey and Tracey of course. And then Kevin turned up with more gifts... :-)

We headed off to Simon's place to get ready for the BBQ - I have a fab friend who so generously let me use his house for the party - it was great having such a wonderful space (both indoors and outdoors) to use. And the weather behaved - it wasn't boiling hot, but it didn't rain!

I had a great day - everyone turned up, everyone got along and we all ate much food and drank lots of Pimms and bubbles (Lindauer of course!). And then when it got dark we had an open fire and danced on the deck... finally staggering off to bed just as the sun was coming up...

So not so well the next day - but I had never planned to be! Some photos below, and more on Flickr...

Tracey & Julia dancing - about 3am

Tracey & Julia dancing - about 3am
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

I think I was attempting to get a bit arty by going black and white...

Enjoying the bubbles and beer...

Kristie, Tracey, Chris, Maya, Sophy, Mhairi and Jackie
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

The Deck crew...

Me & Julia cracking open the bubbles

Me & Julia cracking open the bubbles
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Now the fun starts!

The Gals: Maya, Tracey, Lindsey & Julia

The Gals: Maya, Tracey, Lindsey & Julia
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Early on - the sun is out, we've got our Pimms - all is right with the world!

Cake baker extraordinaire!

Cake baker extraordinaire! (2)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Mhairi and the fab cake she made for me - chocolate honey cake. Everyone LOVED it!!

Lindsey, Tracey, me, Julia & Simon

Lindsey, Tracey, me, Julia & Simon
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Couldn't have done it without these guys - and Owen taking the photo!

Tracey & me

Tracey & me
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

All frocked up and waiting for the guests to arrive...