I had a relatively hectic birthday today. Slightly stressful, but ended up being quite fun, despite some risky moments. I had to constantly remind the kids to please not drive me bananas because it’s *my* birthday, so they should be nice to me! Haha… shameless guilt tripping! And it largely worked… the kids did try to remain largely calm-ISH.

They let me sleep in a little bit, while they were making me a birthday card, before it descended into chaos and screaming, and I had to remind them that it was Mama’s birthday, they shouldn’t stress Mama out.

Front cover of birthday cards from the kids. Left is Big Boy F’s, left is Baby O’s.
Top is Big Boy F’s, bottom is Baby O’s.
Left is Big Boy F’s, left is Baby O’s.

I made “English breakfast” for us all, and commented that really it should be the other way around. It shouldn’t be me cooking for them, and spoiling them on Mother’s Day (like I did this year), and on my birthday. I should be spoiled instead. And I told them that they need to learn how to be considerate, and think about these things, especially as they get older.

Then we went shopping. I finally went to buy a nice leather bag to replace all the bags I lost in the flood 2 summers ago. I’ve been meaning to replace at least some of them anyway – I don’t have a single formal-looking work bag – and decided to at least get it on my birthday, to feel like I’m spoiling myself and getting / giving myself a present. Also bought new climbing kit (my original harness, being more than 10 years old, apparently needs to be replaced). I should have also bought new climbing shoes, but didn’t do so today as I hadn’t done research yet.

Came back home and made some tie-dye vests with the kids. They had learned tie-dye techniques at Chinese camp the past week, and it looked fun and interesting, so I bought a kit from Amazon, and thought we could maybe do it as a project. I’m glad the kit arrived in time for us to make tie-dye vests that are a great present for me – the time together, a new skill / experience, and the fact that I’ll get a tie dye vest for myself too, and we can all wear our tie dye outfits together over summer! I’ve always been interested in getting a tie dye outfit, but don’t think I’ve ever done it, as I’ve never found a design I like that much.

Artists in action
My design! 🙂

Then we went for early dinner with my JC friend at Royal China Baker Street, and dropped the boys off at AJ’s, and we went for an ‘Austentatious’, an improvised Jane Austen Novel at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. It’s amazing how my friend managed to find the perfect thing to do – I love Jane Austen, and I don’t think I’ve ever watched an outdoor show (definitely not at Regent’s Park), and rarely watch improv. The title of the ‘novel’ was “I’m proud of my prejudice”

The only fly in the ointment was that there was a sudden shower half way through the show. So despite wearing a bright yellow raincoat, I still got a bit drenched because the raincoat wasn’t long enough, and my jeans were soaked. So I was a bit chilly. But it was still really lovely.

Austentatious – A play based on Jane Austen’s lost novel “I’m proud of my prejudice” 😉

All in all, a really good birthday, all things considered!