When the first lockdown started back in March, us autumn/ winter babies never thought it would be affecting our birthdays.
Months passed and finally, we saw good things on the horizon, we could see friends and family again!
“Summer was saved.“
This hysteria lasted for a short-while and everyone was so thrilled to have some form of normality back.
Then came the tier system.. the confusion. Are you in tier 1, 2 or 3? Can I go and visit my friend in this tier? What is happening to the pubs? There was an uproar!
I’d accepted it though! Two weeks before my birthday, Rotherham was put into tier 3. I was slightly guttered that I couldn’t even see my friends outside anymore but nonetheless, I stayed optimistic.
I currently live with my brother and his wife so we could still go out as a household! They booked The W for the Saturday (THE best Italian!!!) and bottomless brunch at Turtle Bay on the Sunday. I was super excited… I’d been banging on about the brunch for weeks before.
Here comes Boris!
It must’ve been a tremendously difficult decision for the government and I won’t take anything away from that. But.. I couldn’t help feeling like Boris Johnson has some sort of personal vendetta against me! Every time I made plans, they got changed and then came the big one.. “stay inside please Leana” xoxoxo
My mood was low, I tried to not be crabby but by gosh was it difficult. Lockdown 2.0 was starting at 00:01 on Thursday 5th November, 2 days before my big birthday!
I tried to stay occupied in those first two days of lockdown, knowing that my family would try their best to make it as special as possible!
I retired to bed early that night and was told that I couldn’t come downstairs until 9am in the morning.. it felt like a long slog when I woke up at 7!!
So.. what did they have planned??
When I got downstairs, it was decorated so sweetly and my brother was sat with the camera out… I felt 13 again.. in a good way of course. All of our faces were beaming and I felt so humbled, I really am blessed to have such a thoughtful family!
Bernard, their border terrier, gave me a helping hand with opening presents.. we’re getting him all set for opening his own at Christmas!
The question of the day was: Do you want breakfast first or walking the dog? ……. I opted for,
Walking the dog!
Let me tell you, it feels like quite the mission when you’re tummy is screaming at you! Nevertheless, it was a lovely morning, the colours of autumn were in full swing. Plus it’s the best feeling when you’re wrapped up with the cold air only managing to hit your nose and cheeks.
What was I rewarded with, you ask… My favourite breakfast of course! A full English. None of that fake full English either… I needed that hash-brown goodness! Bacon, Sausage, Egg, Beans, Hash Browns… Bosh!!
Next in my day of fun was the collection of a lovely little birthday cake. I’m a simple kind of girl and there’s one cake that I am in love with. My sister-in-law’s Mum should be on bake off because that Victoria sponge is non-contestable! Imagine your favourite sweet treat and times the thought in your head by 10.. that is the beauty of this cake!
I had one wish for my birthday, it’s something that I try to do every year.. you will either love me or hate me for it. My one wish was to watch the greatest film to have ever graced our screens… Elf! Yes, I wanted to see buddy making his way to New York and bringing back that good old Christmas spirit!
To finish the most wonderful day, we did it in style. We ordered a Chinese takeaway and watched Strictly.. beautiful!!!
Did you think the fun ended there?
I’ve got one more thing to share.. so if you’ve read down to here, you’d know that I was meant to go to bottomless brunch on the Sunday of my birthday.
That thought in your head is in fact correct, my sister made our very own bottomless brunch within the comfort of our own home… it was incredible!!
There was the most gorgeous Mezze platter spread with snippets of my favourite foods!
And don’t get me started on the little bar, I felt well and truly loved!
It goes to show that even during these unprecedented times, it’s not always about expensive nights and over-the-top gestures. I have never felt more grateful for anything, that effort was so appreciated and honestly, I had a birthday that exceeded all of my expectations.