Lockdown birthday

Celebrating a birthday in lockdown can be a challenge. But I was super lucky to have Canberra's COVID restrictions eased a little bit (as of midnight last Thursday) so we could celebrate my birthday is style! We're now allowed two visitors per household, yippee!!!

I think this milestone birthday of mine (yikes i am 70 already!!) will actually be quite a "festival of the birthday". It started when we could visit the girls AT THEIR HOUSE on Friday and I could witness the conclusion of the great cake baking/icing effort. This was all Ella's work - a two layered chocolate cake, in sugar syrup and butter cream with a final layer of my favourite marzipan icing. Abi helped with the icing project which incorporated beautiful handmade plant and flower decorations. It was a triumph!

And for the duration of the operation, Jody dealt with the spread of icing and sugar syrup throughout this end of the house, which was quite heroic of her.

And the best part..........

To prove how versatile she is Ella finished her baking and straightaway got changed for her zoom Gymnastics class. Today's theme was "monochrome", and this was how Ella prepared for it. These grand-daughters of mine are absolute characters!

The cake was the star turn at my birthday dinner with Josh and Jody and the girls last night - it looked and tasted wonderful!

This pair made it the best night for us - with lots of love and laughter, beautiful food - and the best entertainment (including a quiz about the 50s) on offer anywhere in Canberra!

Abi is always there for the flames and the sharp knives (and she cuts a mean slice of cake!).

My birthday morning started more sedately but extremely stylishly with our friends Jeni and Des. Last week, when we all heard about restrictions easing Jeni got in and invited us over for a celebratory breakfast. Jen is the queen of style and colour coordination and had everything looking beautiful for us in their brand new luxury kitchen

We enjoyed breakfast bubbles, more laughter and a heartfelt appreciation for being able to be in each other's company again after the long weeks of lockdown...

Its also been a flower filled few days, with the most beautiful bunches arriving from dear friends interstate .......

.. and Rob's beautiful delivery too ........

and more ........

I am actually feeling overwhelmed with the love and care everyone has shown, making this milestone birthday so special - in these lockdown conditions, when there are so many things we can't do and so many special people we can't be with.

It felt calming and reflective this morning to have a wander around Commonwealth Park in amongst the cancelled Floriade beds as we caught up on the week's news with Rod and enjoyed a coffee afterwards in our Hassett Park. Even in lockdown, our Canberra is such a beautiful city.