45

[melodysparks]

The countdown has started to my 45th birthday, I don’t feel 45, well, not always. This week also marks other celebrations too.

Anyway, the countdown started 7 days before my actual celebration on Monday this week at work when I took cakes into work. Reasoning: Tree is on leave from today until Tuesday after Easter and we have 3 birthdays in the office this coming weekend so we are staggering the cake distribution. I’m this week, Joseph next week (when I am off on leave too) and Chris H the week after so we don’t get caked out.

Every staff member takes cakes into the offices on their birthday which can be very expensive to buy them individually as some are wont to do. Usually I buy a couple of extra large fresh cream sponge cakes from Morrison’s but this year I decided to bake instead as I know everyone likes my baking.

I spent Sunday afternoon making carrot cake and tangy citrus cheesecake. The cheesecake was the most favoured with many just like Oliver Twist wanting more. Sorry mates ya scoffed it, ya gannets, and in less than 5 minutes too. Fortunately I held back some of the carrot cake the last which right at this moment as I type is being consumed by the company secretary/accountant, he just loves carrot cake.

I arrived at work yesterday to find some brightly wrapped gifts waiting for me, a bottle of expensive bubbly (not alcohol but bubble bath) a box of Thornton’s liquid caramel centre chocolates, a novel by Kristen Britain and a big cook book. I think they are hinting at wanting more baked goodies.

I arrived at work this morning to a leaking acounts office ceiling so we are dancing and singing in the rain, sleet and miserable weather we have this week. Last week we had temperatures in the high teens the hottest March in many many yearsm even the year I got married this week was scorching hot and it continued through easter and into the summer. Oh boggerit theres another leak right in front of my desk.

Monday was my parents 46th wedding anniversary although they have been together for 50 years, an amazing achievement. Tomorrow is my grandfathers 92nd birthday, we, the grandkids are taking him out for a meal next week as we do every year he adores having his family around.

Friday would have been my grandparents 72nd wedding anniversary had Grandma still been alive, they managed to have 50 years together before she died back in 1990. Easter Sunday will be my 17th wedding anniversary. WOW 17 years married. Well it certainly doesn’t feel like it.

And Monday is my 45th birthday, I think I’m depressed now. I need a drink.

I wonder whom I can tweet and ask to retweet me a Happy Birthday on Monday?

Comments

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

Look at it this way--with so many different celebrations, you won't have time to dwell on your on birthday too much!

Besides, the BF has this theory that in our minds, we are half our age plus seven years... so that's how old you really are! :-)

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

That is true yes.

SO going by you BF's theory I will be 29. I think I can live with that. :-D

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

See? Happy-making all around :-)

His theory is you can also date someone half your age plus seven as well. *snort*

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

I think I will give that a skip, too many women in Nottinghamshire we outnumber the men 5-1

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

That's a pretty big gender gap--any particular reason why?

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

At its peak the lace industry in Nottingham employed 14000 women and 6000 men. This is where the old possible myth that there are more eligible women than men in Nottingham originates from. The numbers became even more lop-sided durinmg the wars of the 20th century.

We now have a very large student population with 2 major universities and the biggest teaching hospital in the country.

There seems to be a larger number of women working or learning in Nottingham

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Alex Foster a former councellor I know added on his blog last year that

"Alistair Campbell wrote when he visited here a few weeks ago, there are a large amount of women in positions of influence in the city and county:


Nottinghamshire’s great and good were out in force, including the chief constable, the city council’s chief executive, the head of the probation service, the governor of a sex offenders’ prison, the sheriff (yes the sheriff of Nottingham, surely the most famous sheriff title in the world), the high sheriff, the university’s pro-vice chancellor, a former chief nursing officer, the head of children’s services … and every single one of them was a woman. Also there was the country’s first female black High Court judge.

In addition the whole evening was put together by a woman, aforementioned High Sheriff Amanda Farr, and Mental Health Research UK founded by a woman, Clair Chilvers. The only exception to this phenomenal female domination was the Lord Lieutenant … and I warned him that on current trends he would end up being replaced by the first Lady Lieutenant."

COuld be something in that too and from people and families I know they have more girls in them than boys. My mum is one of 4 girls. Tree who I work with she has 2 daughters, and a step daughter and 1 step grandaughter but only 1 step son.

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

Still, statistically, that doesn't make sense. :-) Makes you wonder how that came to be without a driving force (say, the Gold Rush caused some areas to be populated by men to women 4:1 or something like that). Curious.

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Nottingham was a large textile manufacturing city and a lot of the workers were women as they were cheaper to employ than men

The start of the Industrial Revolution was a driving force. Sir Richard Arkwright's first mill before he moved to Derbyshire was here and James HArgreaves too.

I'm sure there are other areas in the UK where there are more men than women

[duffy-60.livejournal.com]

45 is going to be wonderful! This is one hellaciously busy week for you, girl. Enjoy it all!

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Thank you I hope to

[skybluedelight.livejournal.com]

You have so many things to celebrate so enjoy them all :D

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Thank you

[wild7orchid.livejournal.com]

WOW! You've mentioned some serious numbers here. Overall, this week is full of any kind of celebrations among your family. It's great when people stay so long together. :))

In case if LJ will eat a notification about your birthday, I would like to congratulate you right now, my dear! On Monday, I wish you an awesome day with a plenty of cards, flowers and huge cake. Have fun and forget about the depression. *hugs you tight-tight*

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the lovely wishes, I am feeling a lot better now I have broken up from work for 10 days work was getting me down in general I think its the break that was needed

The family all love to get together when we can for our birthdays and anniversaries and always seem to appear in clumps close together in each month, 5 in January, 3 each in February and March, 6 in April, 4 in May, only 1 in June, 5 in July, 8 in August, on 1 in September, 3 in October, 2 in November then comes Christmas and New Year and we all get together again.

[tamnat.livejournal.com]

Christine, dear, how come I didn't get a notification about your BD?
Please accept my almost-a-month-belated Happy Birthday and wholehearted wishes of happiness, of everything good, sweet and inspiring! May you life be full of fabulous moments that take your breath away! Muah, muah, muah!!!

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

You know I honestly don't know why you didn't but not to worry and thank you so much for the lovely message and the sentiment behind it.

[tamnat.livejournal.com]

In our culture people are superstitious about celebrating bd or greeting ahead of time. It's ok to have a party a bit later, when time permits.
We also treat colleagues to yummies, in this way, we share customs :)

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Thank you for they well wishes anyway