Sunday, October 28, 2007

Nell's Big Birthday

So I am feeling quite seedy as I type this today. Which means I may not do this post credit.

The seediness is a result of last night's celebrations for the significant birthday of my dear friend Nell. As we all know there are no numbers after 29 but yesterday marked the 12th time that particular anniversary was celebrated. Actually I don't think Nell is as afraid of the numbers as I am - she wrote "I'm 40" on her invite with large lettering and placed it prominently on the front. That's Nell for you, she says it loud, says it proud.

Anyway. Crafty very kindly babysat the kids, and Fixit and I headed off to South Melbourne for a party in a beer garden. It was a good party, lots of laughing, drinking, smoking. Almost as if we were all 20 again really. But just maybe we're all more relaxed in our own skin now, and happy to be who we are. That's one of the things I love about Nell; that she wears herself without apology. She embraces her friends and family with love, warts and all. I don't know if it is the product of being the school-teacher's daughter in a small country town, but she resists peer group pressure like no-one I know. She goes gung-ho for stuff she likes without fear of being thought daggy or eccentric (not that she is either of those things!). She's a great chick, is Nell. I can take her anywhere, introduce her to anyone and she will join in and make the occasion fun. She plays with our kids and helps with their care and connects with them on a level most children don't expect from grown-ups. She can gossip and character assassinate with the best of them should I require that (and often I do), but her eyes are also open for everyone's good side. She is no stranger to sadness but she deals with it with a bit of medication and a lot of humour (I know that sounds a bit bonkers but it's true). I love her so much.

Her friend Shelly and I organised the group gift, a diamond. Nell's inheritance from her grandmother, a diamond ring, was taken in a burglary years ago so this is by way of being a replacement. We will be taking her to a jewellers later on and she can prescribe the rock she wants! Meanwhile we gave her a sparkly costume ring.

Happy Birthday Nell.

Love from Fixit, Climber and Cherub. And me of course.

20 comments:

  1. Friends are precious, and it is nice to have a chance to honour someone whose friendship you appreciate.

    What a nice gesture to get her a new ring. I'm sure she loved it!

    Heidi

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  2. Sounds like a great time and a great friend!!

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  3. I'm sure that's not the alcohol talking - "I love all of you, I really love you..."

    Happy birthday Nell. She sounds like a very cool chick indeed.

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  4. Good friends like that are like gold. Nell sounds like a very special person, lucky you.

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  5. And from me too Nell, she forgot to mention me!

    We all love Nell. Well, ok, I don't know her, but I know OF her, and that's good enough for me.

    I'm glad she had a great party!

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  6. Sounds like you had a great time. Its nice to have friends you really love and you should tell them too!
    I'm with Tracey - "I love you, no shit, its not the wine, I really, really love you...."
    Lovely gift idea too.

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  7. Aw, happy birthday to your Nell! Everyone needs a friend like that!

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  8. Wow. Nell's a lucky person to have you and the rest as her friends.

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  9. Her beauty shines in her face! What a lovely tribute to your wonderful friend.
    Happy 40th Nell!

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  10. What a great friendship you have in each other.

    And a rock !

    Noice !

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  11. Happy birthday to Nell! How lovely for you to have such a great friend and for you to be such a great friend to her.

    It sounds like a fabulous party...and a rock? Fantastic!

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  12. I always love to read of such special friendships and women being so good and loving and caring and respectful of each other. Bless you both.

    And all you 40-year olds look sooooo young to me. I should be so lucky (lucky, lucky, lucky!)

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  13. Every time I read about your Nell I think, "I wish I had a Nell!" Never more so than with this post, what a lovely celebration for a lovely friend. Now... is she willing to move to Ohio?

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  14. Nell deserves that diamond! I'm with Aunty.... We Love Nell! We Love Nell! Nell for President!! Hey, that's NOT a bad idea, is it?

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  15. Thanks for sharing! I can see why you are so taken with Your Nell!

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  16. Happy birthday from all of us too Nell,
    I have to join the Nell appreciation club too....you're a great friend and aunty, I really enjoy watching you and the boys. They love you soooo much.

    Jenny

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  17. Thanks for the lovely post Stomper
    I especially liked the peer group pressue comment!

    Thanks also to everyone for the birthday wishes

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  18. What a wonderful friend you've got there.

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  19. how nice are you getting her a diamond??!!! Can I be your new best friend??ps happy birthday nell!

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  20. there is nothing better than a girlfriend

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