Tuesday saw me at Tamworth Next store to have coffee and cake in Costa with Linda and she insisted on paying as a birthday treat and handed me a birthday gift too (which I saved until 31st). In the afternoon I met Diane at Grangewood Garden Centre - just coffee this time!
Wednesday Suzanne and I went to a new place in town called No 18 for coffee and a toasted tea cake. The décor of this place was very rustic - the tables were made of slatted doors still with their black hinges and nuts and bolts and number on them. The menu was written on a roll of brown paper hanging behind the counter, they sold t-shirts and jumpers and there is a barber shop attached. Very 'hip' if that's still a phrase!
On the same day I was treated to afternoon tea at The Tudor House café and Tapas Bar in town. My sister-in-law had had a voucher for her birthday and wanted to share it with me for mine! How lovely was that?
Thursday I visited Margaret, a friend recovering from her third (same hip) hip operation - don't ask! So coffee was served in her conservatory by her very patient husband. On Friday I went to work off some of the week's calories at Lea Marston Hotel and Spa. The gym and pool were busy and I left early to pop into Matalan at our out-of-town shopping centre - Ventura Park. Everyone else from Tamworth were out shopping too - or so it seemed, but I picked up a bargain pair of black trousers in the sale and headed for home. By now I had a lovely lot of birthday presents and a bunch of flowers. And the post-lady delivered lots of cards too.
Tradition in this house on my birthday is that I open cards and pressies in bed with a cuppa (hot water and lemon) and it always feels like I am so much younger! I was overwhelmed with all I received - such lovely thoughtful presents and cards. I then dressed and had set myself a target to bake some cakes for visiting family. My (now 5 year old) mixer came out of retirement and was soon mixing ingredients for blueberry muffins, which thankfully turned out quite nice.
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| Nanny Julie & Imogen Rose |
My sister, neice and great-niece visited and my 'posh' cake stand came out of hiding. Whilst they ate cake and drank coffee I had baby cuddles. Imogen hardly woke except to take her bottle feed from me but her tiny hands and features fed my soul and melted my heart.
On the evening my husband, daughter and I went out for a meal at Christopher's The Peel Hotel, Tamworth but first they wanted to show me The Tap, a Real Ale micro-brewery, and Gin Bar. Well I'm not a fan normally of Gin but my sister had told me about Rhubarb gin which sounded lovely so I had one with lemonade, a slice of lime and lemon and lots of ice. It was delicious. So my daughter got me another only this time it was a double! Well I was very squiffy!
And so another year older and one more year to wait until I get my pension! I hope the ladies campaigning regarding the injustice served on us by the Government moving the goal post without enough warning win their cause. How blessed I am to have a loving family and generous friends where others are not so fortunate.
Oh and Jan, my new Swanwick Writers Summer School friend, I know you will be interested in this present. My daughter recently visited the only Bookstore in Amsterdam and got my this wallet purse for my birthday.
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| Yoshi, real leather wallet purse, made in Lichfield, Staffordshire |
Perhaps on your travels you may visit this place? I look forward to reading your travel blogs.
