Wednesday 14 January 2009

I should be so Lucky, lucky lucky lucky!

I've been a very very very lucky girl indeed ... Lots of treats for my birthday! My hot stone massage in Henley followed by rosepetal bath and choccies yesterday was divine!! Afterwards, Mr Marmalade and I had a spot of lunch and then a wander around the town. I have to tell you that the charity shops in Henley are more like exclusive boutiques! No junk there - i'm talking Monsoon, Jaeger, Diva, French Connection, Kaliko, Jaques Vertes etc! If you're in spitting distance from Henley and you haven't been there ... GO!

I didn't fancy dinner out, even though Mr M had booked us a table at a nice restaurant, so instead I put a roast in the oven, and while it was cooking, I opened my presents. Would you like to see? Well I'm going to show you anyway. I was quite overwhelmed!


There was Jewelery; shell spirals from my mother in law who got them on her recent trip to New Zealand, the message which came with them said "Koru (spiral), derived from the fern frond signifying new life, beginnings, harmony, peace and growth; a gorgeous little fabric/felt brooch from the lovely Kitty, a handcrafted acrylic heart from my favourite sister in law; a beautiful 'sparkly bracelet' from another close friend; a swallow pendant made by The Great Frog; and an equisite pair of opal earrings from the ever kind Miss T.


There were crafting treats too! This beautiful Japanese fabric from the gorgeous JennyFlower, you can't see here, but it's long and looks like it needs to be quilted into a nice wall hanging, I think it depicts the four seasons ... except there seem to be five (?). The gadget is from a friend of mine who also likes to sew, it's a 'multi purpose sewing tool' and is quite amazing .. it has 12 handy tools housed in that pen shaped tube, including a magnet, thread cutter, punch needle, and magnifying glass to name but a few!


There were corsets!


There were girly treats and a weekend away (is there no end to Mr M's generosity?)!


And there were friends. "Dear Fatty" is a reference to Dawn French's partner in crime, Jennifer Saunders. The Italian Connection and I have a similar connection except ofcourse, we're not famous. She's blonde, i'm dark, we do silly impressions, we're funny together, and we bounce off eachother intuitivly just like they do. We have long been fans. Can you see that spangly book there? It's a photo album from my "dear fatty"... except she's not fat by any stretch. She is awfully clever and witty though. And having conspired a little with Mr Marmalade, she put together this wonderful album for me!


With pictures from my childhood


and facts from the year I was born


Details of big events

And fun times - that bottom picture is my first wedding with Mr M in the registry office (we had the white dress day afterwards)


This page is all about our 'getting ready to go out' ritual from 20 years ago which we STILL practice today when circumstance allows!


These are rules from college ... that is, the rules BEFORE we attended. The year after, a new rule was added in our 'honour'. We don't have a copy of those rules, but the extra one was an empatic "nose studs are NOT allowed!". It's our claim to fame, and we love it. (As you can see, they'd already covered the pink hair factor!).

There was reference to my chinese birth year .. ha ha very funny!


And a range of 'advice' matched up to a range of idols ...


And at the end, there was this beautiful poem

Leisure
by W H Davies

WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

18 comments:

Pink Feather Paradise said...

Glad to see you were very spoilt, everyone deserves at least one day a year where they are the centre of everyones attention.
What lovely gifts and the album is beautiful, so much thought and love in every page

You are a very lucky lady!
congrats
x Alex

CurlyPops said...

What beautiful presents. It's so much more amazing when you receive something handmade where the gift giver has taken so much time and effort to make such a beautiful gift that you can keep forever.
The photo album is gorgeous.

Gina said...

So many wonderful presents and the album is fabulous - something you will treasure and look at over and over again.

Twiggy said...

Lucky you and well deserved. Lovely treats from your man and the album from your friend is so thoughtful. Love your other pressies too. An all round great birthday.
Twiggy x

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic day you must of had! Lovely gifts too!

I know what you mean about the charity shops in Henley - definately worth a visit! I had thought the one in Notting Hill would be the same when I went earlier this year but it was full of tat!!!

xx

Anonymous said...

Oh wow! All the effort and work that went into your gifts show just how worthy you are.

I love that a rule was added in your honour.

Kitty said...

Now that's how to do a birthday! The album is such a special gift - what a lovely friend you have there.

So glad you had a lovely time, and here's to many more of them.

xxx

dottycookie said...

How fabulous! And how well you deserve all of them!

The album is wonderful - I remember making a huge collage of tickets and photos and so on for my hubby's birthday one year, but an album would be better!

Jo Power said...

Wow what a fab day you had and well deserved I am sure. Love the album your friend made you what a lovely idea. What alot of thought and energy went into your lovely gifts.

Gone to Earth said...

What a lucky girl you were. I'm pleased you had a wonderful day. I love the idea of the photo album. Something to treasure for a long time.

Anonymous said...

Happy Belated Birthday to you!

It sounds (and looks) as though you had a fabulous day...What a load of presents!

laoi gaul~williams said...

what amazing gifts~you deserve every one of them!

dragonfly said...

Lucky you getting all those wonderful presents. I got the Dawn French book for Christmas, it's hilarious! The album is fab too - what a lovely keepsake.

Tracy said...

Happy Birthday belated, Julia! :o) Looks like you had a delicious, fun birthday with lots of indulgences--just what a birthday should be! May this be a beautiful, happy, creative year for you. ((HUGS))

Indigo Blue said...

OOhh, what lovely presents. i have got one of those mulit-tools. The tape measure is very handy.

Anonymous said...

wow, what wonderful gifts.

jennyflowerblue said...

So glad you had a lovely day with lots of nice things, Your man and mate really are very special aren't they?

Mrs Moog said...

Wow - what a lot of lovely pressies!! The album is such a great personal gift - must have taken ages!

I had Dawn French's book for Christmas and loved it - but then, I happen to think she's the best!!

xx