Thirty Seven... I can barely believe it.

It was happening whether I wanted it to or not, so I went ahead and enjoyed my birthday celebration as much as possible.

It started on the Friday afternoon beforehand when I received a delivery of the prettiest flowers from Rob. I had the rest of the day off from work with Ollie, who treated me to a glass of prosecco at Ham Yard Hotel, followed by a surprise lunch at the lovely 2 Michelin Star restaurant Hibiscus, and to top it off, a trip to the theatre to see The Audience with Kristin Scott Thomas as the leading lady.

It was a wonderful day. The 6 course tasting menu we had for lunch was beautiful (menu below) as was the whole dining experience.

The surprise restuarant

On Saturday, my birthday, I was showered with beautiful gifts from Mum, and Oliver. I then met a bunch of good friends for a day out at Chapel Down Vineyard in Kent. We took the train there and back. The weather was a little overcast when we first arrived and strolled around the estate. But after our lunch in their restaurant, we sat in the sunshine - with a few bottles of their very own bubbly - in the walled garden. It was absolutely delightful. Eventually the sun when down and we headed back to London. Before heading home, Ollie and I had a night cap in Balham. 

To round off the weekend, Ollie and I had a quiet pub lunch on Sunday at the Jolly Butcher in Stoke Newington and a wander around the area.

Champagne for the train journey

Chapel Down Vineyard

The gang

The sun came out in the Walled Garden

Ollie & I, Damian & Jaimee

Stu, Mailie, Amanda and Kris

Mailie, Jaimee, Ollie, Damian and me

Me & Ollie

Relaxing in the sun

Amanda, Mailie, me, Stu & Kris

Wandering in the vineyards

Gorgeous flowers from Rob arrived in mini milk bottles

My beautiful gifts!

From Mum: a beautiful Larsson & Jennings watch, a new summer scarf from Whistles, Chanel nail polish, Laurer Mercier make up, books, pastel-topped boxes, a herb cutter, and so many chocs I am still eating them now!

From Oliver: a new hand bag, a Costa Rica guide book, an Aesop hand cream, and some special chocolates from Paul A Young

From my friends: books, hand cream, a tshirt & earrings, a handbag, a tea set, and a journal

From my team at work: a Diptyque candle in one of my favourite scents

All the treasured cards I received, and flowers from Ollie

Thanks to everyone for the birthday messages I received from Australia and home. It made me feel very special. I might even look forward to the next one... well I won't but it's a nice idea.

Our 6 course tasting menu from Hibiscus:

A bite-size foie gras ice cream and mango cone

Served in a perfect egg shell, pea purée coconut foam sprinkled with curry powder

Devonshire crab with elderflower jelly topped with flowers

Fresh vegetable dumplings in prawn consommé 

Cod in foam crouton layer, potato grenobloise 

A chicken dish with mushrooms 

Strawberry salad celeriac jelly Szechuan pepper cream with pepper and choc shavings

A cheese course

Chocolate millefeuille basil ice cream anise tuille