So after weeks of looking forward to it with a sense of impending doom, my birthday finally arrived and I finally reached the age at which life is apparently supposed to begin.
When I was little, I used to get up on the morning of my birthday and peer closely into the mirror to see if I looked any older…I don’t do that now just in case I find I actually do! But, having received a huge number of cards which I had resisted opening early and some from whom I had no idea, I woke feeling excited for the first time in years!
Opening the cards had to be done with great care. I had a feeling there had been some mischief afoot and guessed correctly that one or two might be unsuitable for showing to my mum who was sitting on the bed watching me open them! As I opened them, it soon became clear that I had received cards from at least one fictional person plus one or two celebrities who, apart from anything else, couldn’t possibly have had my address! I giggled the whole way through and eventually came to a card that appeared to be slightly bulging and rattled in a way that suggested the bed was about to be showered with something my mum would spend the next few weeks hoovering up. I carefully extracted the card with minimal showering of iridescent stars and 40s and was promptly rendered speechless.
The card alone would have left me somewhat lacking in speech; however, it was what I found when I opened it that really left me open-mouthed.
I never for one moment expected to find a signed photograph of Richard Armitage wishing me a happy 40th birthday. I have the most wonderful friends and one in particular went all out to make me smile and laugh ensuring that the day was one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had. I hope she knows how much I appreciate what she did and how much I love her.
A fab lunch was eaten in one of my favourite restaurants and the day was finished off drinking lightly sparkling Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and eating a wonderful wheat-free chocolate birthday cake made by my mum! I even had a candle to blow out.
So, after receiving wonderful pressies, beautiful flowers and lovely messages, not to mention eating scrumptious food…I have to conclude that being 40 is not as bad as I feared. At least not so far! I’ve been told that it gives me a free rein to be naughty and to start saying things like, “We didn’t do things like that when I was your age,” and “Back in my day…”
I shall bravely attempt to embrace my 40s and whatever challenges and adventures they bring.
The 40s are great! They’re the new 20s. : D
I wish you all the best as you embrace them.
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Thanks Frenz! 🙂
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Testing…still can’t independently comment.
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There’s nothing to fear in being 40! Welcome to the club!
Pike in and join in the mayhem! 🙂
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Pile even…. *mumble* not allowing cancelled comments*
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I quite liked “pike in” – I could edit it and remove the 2nd comment but I won’t – it’s more fun this way! Thanks for your kind welcome lovely xxx
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Happy birthday, Kathryn. Sounds as though you had a great day
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Thanks…I did! 🙂
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Hi, sweetie! What a fabulous 40th birthday! I adored that card (the things you can do with Photoshop are amazing!) and I know the signed photo was like the icing on the delicious cake. 😀 You obviously have lovely friends and what a blessing that is. And yes, one of the nice things about getting older is being less afraid to say what you really think and be who you really are. 😀
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Thank you. I have been especially lucky and if it hadn’t been for Twitter and the RA fandom I would never have met most of my friends so I have a lot for which to be thankful. 🙂
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So glad you had a lovely day cos you deserve it. I was on tenterhooks hoping that the signed pic would arrive in time. I only wrote off in February and as there is a 3 month turnaround I wasn’t sure if it would arrive in time. I mentioned the date of your actual birthday, and if it wasn’t possible to send it in time I wondered if RA could wish his *biggest* fan a belated happy 40th birthday. I was gobsmacked when it arrived thru my letterbox a week before your birthday and I was beside myself with excitement!! I didn’t want to entrust that precious cargo to ordinary post, hence why I sent it Recorded Delivery.
Sounds like you got thoroughly spoilt by your family. That meal looked delicious! Can’t wait to see the results from your new camera.
Enjoy being 40. It’s not so bad you know! Love Sandy xxx
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Every time I look at that photo I get a little shiver of excitement. I can’t tell you how excited I was or how close to tears I was when I opened the card and found it! I’m not often speechless but I was…for several minutes! 🙂 Thank you doesn’t really cover it so I hope you know how much this has meant to me! *huge hugs* xxxxxx
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Happy Birthday!
That your life be full of love, friendship and art (Armitage)!
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Thank you Ana xx
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This is *just* wonderful. Happy, happy birthday (belatedly)!
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Thank you so much…I’m still on a mini-high 🙂
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[…] Have I mentioned I love Richard Armitage? A seriously wonderful birthday card for a devoted fan. […]
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Happy Birthday and welcome to the 40’s. I believe you will like it here. I know I have thus far. I wish you many, many blessings.
And how amazing it Mr. A? And your friends sound like fabulous people who obviously love you very much.
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Thank you…my friends are fantastic. I am very lucky!
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Kathryn this is really wonderful. You seemingly had a downright splendid day Oh, look at that delicious “Torte”. Lecker!! As you mentioned the signed picture in your answer to my comment over at “A Birthday Surprise” at wattpad the other day, I thought that I would so much love to see that photo.Therefore thanks an awful lot for sharing it with us. Your friends are truly special and they excactly know what you like the most and make you the proudest girl on earth!!. Enjoy your naughty fourties. I know what I’m talking about, as I am a milestone birthday ahead of you!! 😉
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Thank you Linda. I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been. And sharing the photo was my pleasure 🙂
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[…] Comments « Naughty Forty […]
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What great friends who know what you like and work to get it for you. Happy belated birthday.
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Thanks Beverly…I am blessed x
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[…] past year has been a challenge and not one that I have fully embraced despite my determination 12 months ago. I made no promises, but looking back I can’t say that much has […]
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