Birthday Girl

Wednesday 2nd June

Laura's long awaited birthday turned out to be a beautiful day. The sun streamed into the bedroom and woke me up rather earlier than I had planned, so I wandered through to the kitchen to make a drink. I love those quite stolen moments before the day begins, I pulled back the blinds and gazed out across the bay as the day was waking up. If I could freeze time it would be a moment like this in May or June when the days are long and the promise of summer stretches ahead.

Before long Laura got up and Robbie who has 'man flu' shuffled into the lounge to suffer in comfort. I shouldn't be unkind, he really does have a bad cold and it is especially miserable to feel unwell when you are on holiday. I had set all Laura's presents out on the dressing table and in a few short minutes the parcels which had been so lovingly wrapped had all be opened. Laura got money, jewelery, some Hello Kitty toys and several DVDs, including Top Gear, Loose Women and Outnumbered. She seemed very happy with the DVDs so at least I got something right. Her main present was a bracelet, she seems to like that too. I can't help wondering where those nineteen years went, suddenly I feel very old.

We spent the day on the beach, it was lovely, but I was very careful not to get too much sun. Laura is very lucky to be able to spend her birthday on the beach. We went out for a meal this evening, it was a lovely family time, I wish Emily had been with us but at least we were able to phone her.