Birfday Bouncing

Hee, I had a birthday, 21 again.. well, ok 41 but given how life truly did begin at 40 I'm not too fussed. And it was so *good* to have a proper birthday, given that this time last year I was still so groggy and drained from being in hospital and just had no interest at all in presents or celebrating (felt better a few weeks later and got my fab tenor uke of course but on the day itself I couldn't be bothered *sigh*). There wasn't even cake last year! Um, ok, there wasn't cake this year either but that's only cos mum wasn't up to making one and the patisserie had sold out (will get some this week to make up *rubs hands gleefully*)

I think the even better bit was that rather than getting things online - since my parents' health is rough and I'm particular about what I like I've been picking and sending for my own presents for years now, rather than a list or surprises - I was able to go out and about into town and browse happily and pick up some extra treats all by myself. Independence is worth its weight in gold, believe me. So when I was opening my gifts last Monday it was with the knowledge that I got many of them myself in a real live shop without needing a minder or just choosing from pictures on a screen.

It also meant any sales or special offers could be taken advantage of, thus I am now the happy owner of a large Boofle, Clinton Cards' knitted stuffed dog, complete with valentines chocs which was marked down by 75% - not surprised, its cute but if I were to spend 60 quid on my loved one, or have them spend that oneme I'd rather want something more substantial for my cash than a stuffed dog and some cheap chocolates! But he's a lovely cut price Boofle and given I was tempted by the smaller ones last year its nice to have a cuddle. Dad couldn't resist either, stealing him back off mum as fast as possible:


    



I got some of my favourite truffles (With peanut butter mainly, ooh), a book of Italian word puzzles, a charm bead in the shape of a not-teddy bear, Skyfall on dvd (for when I've re-watched Casino Royale..), lovely fondant cremes and egg shaped glass baubles (yay John Lewis), and some shiny crystally dangly things.

My main present which was one of the dolls I love to collect. Folk who don't appreciate dolls need to remind me yet again that they don't like them, it makes me happy and its really made me smile to have another little girl to add to my collection. She's a Kidz n Cats Ariane, German doll yet again, they seem to make the best ones, and is fitting in well with my other Kidz n Cats and Gotz dolls... mum was charmed also :)









(Really need to get my proper camera out and take some pics of the dolls in decent lighting rather than camera phone shots in the evening...)

Other people love me too and sent stuff, my darling diddler proved yet again we share similar tastes with a gorgeous blue handmade glass teardrop shaped dangly thing, and her daughter picked out a sparkly crystal heart decoration which is catching the light nicely in the window. And DC (tanngrisnir) treated me to a copy of The Annotated Hobbit, which is wonderfully geeky, the full text of The Hobbit with margin notes of changes and background stuff, even illustrations and quotes, shall happily pore over that.

Mum was meant to cook a special birthday meal but was so sore and achy it was enough for her to stay up long enough for the pressie part of things, she made the meal yesterday now her new tablets have kicked in so it was an elongated birthday, which is no bad thing.

Happy hobbits, many lovely things and all the lovely messages on LJ and Facebook really made me smile too :)