On Saturday (23rd) it was my birthday. Unlike many people, I love celebrating my birthday. It is just after halfway through the year so it is like my own special new year, a beginning, a whole new journey around the sun. I love being spoiled and getting presents. After my parents died and after my divorce, I had a few very lonely birthdays. No cards, no presents. But I always tried to make it special for myself with little treats – a new book and my favourite foods.
As I have built my own little family of the heart, I have loads of people who really make my day special just by being there.
I was woken with coffee and gifts in bed on Saturday. This was one of them. A gorgeous detailed solid silver African elephant pendant (I will write a separate blog post about it).
After that we went on a boat tour around a part of Stockholm neither of us know very well. Stockholm is built on 14 islands so there is a lot of water everywhere. I have lived on two of the main islands on the south side. This tour went west so we learned a lot. The boat was an old mahogany one that was in spectacular shape.


After that we went for an early dinner at the 28th floor Skybar ‘Heaven’ restaurant over the canal from us


The next day we had a small tea/coffee and cake party for family and friends. Lots of chocolate cake, scones, banana bread, fresh fruit. It was delicious!
Janet, looks like you had a good one. Happy for you.
Mine is at the end of August and my soon to be 10 year old granddaughter is 4 days ahead of it. Until a while ago I always said she was 4 days older than me, which so confused her. Somewhere along the way she realized the “why” of her conundrum. It was fun while it lasted.
Thank you!
Happy Birthday! That looks like an amazing birthday celebration! I love that you waved at your cats. I would do that, too!
I adore those shoes!
Thank you, and thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed your birthday. I am always amazed when I come across people who don’t celebrate their birthdays. I hate parties, but like you I always try to make my birthday special (often spanning it across a few days so I can celebrate with different groups of people). I love the idea of the cutlery and napkins in the table drawer in the restaurant.
It was a bit embarrassing – we asked for cutlery and then they told us about the drawer!
Belated happy birthday & wonderful photos!
Thank you and thank you!
Sounds (and looks!) like an amazing day. I remember very fondly the day we had out in London with Rita for your birthday.
Oh wasn’t that epic?
Happy Birthday and thank you for sharing your day with us. That looks like a wonderful way to celebrate.
Thank you very much, and thank you for reading!
Dear Janet, Happy Belated Birthday! You seem to have had a wonderful day! That necklace is gorgeous! I can’t wait to read about it in your next post! I’ve always liked to celebrate my birthday although, because I’m an introvert, I’m happy to just have my husband, my daughter and my cat. You live in a wonderful area! I can just imagine you waving at the cats… and them waving back!… Many happy returns!
We did wave actually, ha ha. The people around us must have thought we were nuts, but at our age, we don’t care. I generally like to spend New Year’s Eve alone, with introspection about the previous year and hope for the new one. I have to admit, that after being social, I am always exhausted, so we withdraw into our little home with our cats for a while.
Good for you and I’m sure the cats must have appreciated! I always dread going to parties but once I’m there, I enjoy it a lot but when I come back, I’m usually completely exhausted and I can’t “people” for a couple of days!…