Small bullet point memories of my 30th birthday party. I’ve been putting off writing this until I feel less depressed. I do feel like things are moving forward from that point of view but they’re still bad. It occurred to me however that I might feel better for thinking and writing about something very cheerful so here goes…
- It was really, really good fun. I danced so much that my back hurt most of the next day. That was totally worth it.
- I’d really agonised over the venue because the party room and bar are on one floor and the two disabled loos are on another (right next to each other which I’m sure made sense to someone…). There is a lift but I’d worried with the number of wheelchair users we might end up with there could be a big hassles with that. But unfortunately we couldn’t find another venue. I think I invited seven other wheelchair users but actually the only other wheelie there was <a href=”http://stickmancommunications.blogspot.com”>Hannah</a>. So it worked really great from that point of view.
- My birthday is actually Christmas Day so this was a very late party (due to Christmas being a rubbish time for any other form of party). I never expected presents and if anyone asked me what I wanted I told them they didn’t need to bring me presents. I got loads and loads of presents actually which I didn’t expect. Some really great stuff too.
- In terms of who was there I’ve been using the term weird to describe it. Which probably isn’t the right one. Unexpected, probably is. Basically when I did the invites there were people I thought probably wouldn’t be able to come and others I thought for sure would come. There were also people who I thought wouldn’t stay long and others who I thought would be there until the bitter end. But it felt like I was wrong on all of those. It was almost like if you were one of the ones I’d suspected (or in some cases they had said) were coming for an hour or so only you stayed for way longer and one or two I’d figured would be first in last out were anything but.
- Of my three cousins on my Mum’s side I’d been told two (plus partners) were coming but one couldn’t make it. What actually happened was the two I was expected both didn’t due to illness but the one I wasn’t expecting and his partner turned up and surprised me. Fun stuff and a very nice surprise!
- Several other people who had said they were coming then didn’t come. Some let me know not to expect them in advance and others didn’t. In one particular case I found out from another friend that they’d decided not to come which I was absolutely livid about (this was a few days before the party).
- One of my besties wasn’t well and didn’t come but then popped round the following morning bringing (yet another) unexpected birthday present and an “unbirthday” card. Apparently her husband was very confused by the unbirthday bit as he didn’t know you could buy those. Somehow he missed that fact that card making is her hobby and she’d made it! She then stayed for a while to hear all about the party which was fun. I must admit when she rang however I was all “you can come so long as I don’t have to get dressed.” and I just threw some jama bottoms on while I waited for her.
- My mum and sister made a massive chocolate marble cake in the shape of a 30. They made two big roasting tins full of cake and cut it out freehand (using a template). 75 eggs went into the making of said cake bits of which I believe are still in my parents freezer.
- Everyone gathered round in a big circle with me in the middle to sing happy birthday and for me to blow out the candles. I think my brother had difficulty holding the cake for that… he certainly said it was heavy at the time.
- They then did three cheers for me which was embarrassing but sort of fun and everyone danced to Chesney Hawkes One and Only which is my absolute favourite song. Brilliant and the only time we had absolutely everyone dancing.
Wow actually I’ve gone into way more detail and said much more than I planned about the party. I’m really tired and I think I’ll save the rest of this for tomorrow to save writing a total dissertation in one blog entry. Writing this has cheered me up and made me smile though… 😉