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.
