I did not really want to go to sleep the night before the birthday. It seems in a blink of an eye that a decade has passed by, the thirties being my child bearing years. (I really didn't want a surprise 30th party with three weeks to go before giving birth to our lovely first born daughter in 2001). I don't want to let go of that decade of nurturing and enter the next unchartered chapter. What will it bring? An Arabian Adventure yes, but what else? Despite the fat burning, cardio kick boxing, swimming and cycling the jelly belly is still relectant to release me from it's greed induced grasp. It's my buoyancy aid, keeping me afloat here.
Sleep eventually enveloped me and then next thing I know it was sunrise in the desert dawn of my new decade. I received lovely surprise parcels and cards, fab facebook messages via Nigel, texts, e-mails and mobile phone calls. I treated myself to skyping my brother in "chucking it down" Clayton West, West Yorkshire and my best friend in blustery Bray, Ireland. A thoroughly modern, technological birthday best wishing event. It was great! The only shadows were cast by the clouds building up in the now greying sky.
I was thrilled with my new blender bought by my family. Perhaps I can whizz up some organic fruit face packs to combat the hairline facial fractures we call wrinkles.
Another desert dwelling friend hosted a coffee morning for me which was supposed to be a surprise, but being the detective I am, I sussed out the situation a few days in advance. So were the tears when the cake baked with love bearing one solitary candle arrived real or crocodile ones? Real of course. It's surreal to be specially treated by lovely new friends only just met. We are all in the same boat here no matter where we come from. We all need each other in our cosmopolitan community.
When we have coffee mornings here at the not unusual time of 9am it's like having lunch because we've been up since 5.30am and our kids have been at school for two hours. So as well as coffee and tea you get sandwiches, crackers, biscuits, fruit, spring rolls, noodles and of course buns and cakes. It is a fantastic feast and probably why the belly remains.
After school and keeping one eye on the weather we wrapped up in jumpers and went down to the beach club for a buffet. Now I have to mention the gorgeous green, hand knitted cardigan that my mum so lovingly made for me. We laughed and joked about me wearing it in 40+ degrees but I actually do need it because this afternoon it's chilly. I carefully put it on in a private symbolic ceremony, feeling instantly warmed and cherised, my mum cuddling me through the soft green wool from the other side of the world.
The wind picked up and the waves were crashing onto the beach sending spray like the many water sprinklers do when dousing the grass. Someone suggested a shamal was brewing ( a sand/wind storm). As the wrapping paper clouds ripped I thankfully received my present from the heavens in the form of rain. I couldn't help running through in my mind the set list Jamiroquai would be playing to their frenzied french audience tonight. "Rock Dust Light Star, coming at you baby!" ........ now look and see those stars for you and me". Jay Kay is in his early forties, perhaps we could go out for dinner and then to a disco together sometime. What do you say Jay?
I slept smiling, thinking of the love I have for my friends and family and which was shown to me in so many kind ways today.
We decided to host our first party here on the 25th November, making it yet another 40th do, not to be rivalled in any way by the revelling in St. Paul's hall in July. I was surprisingly nervous but rose to the occasion with make-up and a smile. It was a great opportunity to declare our bar open and as Nigel ripped the make-shift banner of toilet paper from the back a huge cheer arose and the celebrations began. One of the perks of being a Westerner is that we can apply for a liquor licence and then visit a warehouse full of booze, bringing comfort and thirst quenching relief in this dry and barren dust bowl. It is however a little unsettling when Joshua tells people, "We've got a pub in our living room."
I don't want the lad to think this is normal behaviour do I?
We had some food, more cake of course and a sing song with Nigel and a music teacher on their guitars. It did feel like home having the flat full of kids, adults, noise and music.
