Last Saturday I celebrated my birthday. My birthday was actually Wednesday and I had planned to go out this weekend instead, but I changed my plans. The reason I changed my plans will become obvious towards the end of this post. We went out for a meal, at a country dining pub, with a group of old friends and had a lovely time. I’d arranged for Henry to sleep over at his friend’s house, so we didn’t have to hurry back to relieve a babysitter. It was a lovely evening, but I wimped out at 11.30 (my husband didn’t return till after 1am). I did take a few pictures of the night out, but none really seemed good enough or summed up the night, so I 
showing you a picture of Henry that I took on his way to his sleepover.
Sunday saw us at Gardener’s World Live/The Good Food Show. We last went 2 years ago when I won some tickets. This year I was lucky enough to win again so off we 
went. Going with a child makes for a different experience to browsing as an adult. We concentrated on the gardening stands as they seemed more geared up for children generally. There were quite a few nature conservation/plant society type stands that were keen to engage with children. Here is H doing a little pond dipping.
On Monday H had a Teacher Training Day so we had a blissful day out away from school holiday crowds. We met up with some friends: a mum with a slightly younger than H, still preschool, child. Together we went to a local National Trust house, where we have 
been many times before. H loves the playground there and the outdoor chess set. We wandered around the grounds and visited the walled kitchen garden. Whilst we were there we ended up buying some dill for cooking our dinner; some plants for the garden; and a lovely picture to go on the wall. All our purchases were very reasonably priced and look lovely in the house and garden.
Tuesday saw H back at school and the weather improving. I love this picture of Henry running home from school – he looks so carefree and happy.
Wednesday was my birthday. It was a strange sort of day as I was on my own at home during the day. I guess this is the first year for ages that my husband hasn’t had time off (because he had half term instead) and H has always been there (but now he’s at school). It was a glorious day and I spent it tidying up the front garden, plus we had a new carpet fitted. Hard work gardening, but nice to be outside in the sun. In the evening we had a few emergencies to deal with so it wasn’t the relaxing birthday day I’d 
have liked.
In contrast, Thursday was a much more relaxed day and I did manage some time off: yoga class (just the thing following the previous day’s gardening). It was nice to look at our newly decorated study today and imagine how it would look with all the furniture, a new blind and some pictures.
Friday saw a change of pace again. The other week I found out that I had been lucky enough to win tickets to Brit Mums Live. So Friday saw me heading down to London for the start. I’m planning a separate post to tell you about my trip, but suffice it to say that it was a very enjoyable and worthwhile trip and a great end to my birthday week.
Lovely selection of photographs!Happy belated Birthday!Love that outdoor chess set!
Sounds like a fab birthday week
x
Inside the Wendy House recently posted..Silent Sunday
Wow happy birthday you! What a fab week you’ve had and so lucky to have gone to Britmums, I bet you had a fantastic time. The photos of H running home is brilliant, he does look very happy and relaxed!
Nikki Thomas recently posted..Easy White Chocolate and Marshmallow Krispie Cakes
I did Nikki – it was wonderful & I got to meet a few more bloggers that I hadn’t met before & really wanted to meet (like Jenny Paulin and The Boy and Me), plus I met up with lots that I’d met at Blogcamp or Cybher again.
A belated happy birthday! That monopoly pic certainly brings back memories.
Emily ( recently posted..25/52: Silent Sunday
Great selection of photographs as always. Hope you had a fabulous birthday, and that the emergencies weren’t too bad… Looking forward to hearing about BritMums too! Jealous!!
Emma recently posted..Silent Sunday
Great photos and looks like you had a great birthday week.
Erica you never said it was your birthday!!! i don’t even recall seeing anything on twitter!! many happy belated returns!! and how lucky are you!! not only do you win tickets to Cybher and Britmums but to the Gardening/good food show too!! i think you are a very lucky person – do you win the lottery at all???
i hope those ‘emergencies’ you had to deal with wrest anything too bad.
it was lovely to have met you and i am sorry if i waffled on a lot!! xx
jenny paulin recently posted..My Week That Was – Birthday & Britmums Live
Hi Jenny
My birthday was Wednesday so seemed like a long time ago by the weekend. It’s funny though that Henry and Jenson (I think) share a birthday and ours are very close together too. I ended up celebrating mine the weekend before due to coming to BritMums. I have been very lucky with tickets in the last month or 2, although I think my husband would rather I won some sports ones for him. I wouldn’t have got to go to Cybher or Britmums without winning the tickets so very happy to got those as they were great experiences. Sadly not much luck with the lottery. One of the emergencies is completely solved & the other involves my husband more than me as a good friend of his. It was great to meet you too & hopefully we can meet up again at some point. Maybe a Bristol Blogcamp if they have one or something.
Happy (belated) Birthday, hope you enjoyed BritMums xx
cakesphotoslife (Angie) recently posted..Guest Post: Choccywoccydoodah sing for charity
Happy belated birthday – lovely pictures.
looks like lots of fun was had!
I was so pleased to be able to meet you on the weekend, so nice to put the names to actual people. Love the photo of Henry running home from school, those shots of him are some of my favourite and I like the transition in seasons.
Thanks for linking up
TheBoyandMe recently posted..Thursday 28th June 2012 – ‘Coloured Shapes’ (180/366)