Well, it has been a week since my birthday already, and i realised that i haven't posted since then... I wonder if it is because i did not feel like it, or because i have been busy grading papers and knitting myself a shall... anyway...

That day i was very depressed by my birthday, and i was about to cancel our going to the restaurant that evening (me and H), because i was sad...

The fact is that every week i go to my painting lesson with my friend Celine until 8:30 pm, and then we get back to my house where our "men" play the music...

So, as usual, i pulled in in the alley, honked to call for help (easel and boxes get heavy), said something about the outside light being on when it should be off, and started going up the stairs... saying that the guys haven't heard the honk as they have probably drunk too many "ricards".

When i opened the door and got in to put my painting stuff down, the lights came on and everybody shouted "surprise". All my friends were there along with my father and his friend...

At that moment, everything got a signification to me... nothing spiritual at all, lol, no! I just understood why  H had been cleaning up the house ALL DAY LONG, and cooking in the meantime (as we had friends coming over the next day)... I also understood why i had met Celine the previous day at the supermarket, whereas we never see each other there...

I was absolutely moved! I had tears in my eyes and realised that it helped me accept my birthday a bit more easily than if there had been no party at all.

Everybody had cooked things for us to munch on, i even had a great cake with nice candles to blow (and it was nice because there weren't too many of them)...

Then the guys played songs for us in the basement and when i came back up, i was given presents: I had a lot!

Among other things that i will probably forget to name, i got essential oils, beauty produces, candles, a thing to hold my pictures and other notes ( i do need to find a place where to put it), all kinds of funny presents, oh! and a bottle of Zubrowska, which i absolutely love!

My best friend, Fabienne, got me, or should i say us, a week-end in a hotel that we get to choose: we'll have a pick a place and date! It was such a great idea! And my dad got me a very special, even unique probably, handmade scarf, and a Mont Blanc pen, as he knows i've always liked pens, and that i use them a lot for work... Finally, H got me the beautiful dark red bedsheets i've been wanting for over a year now...

That was a nice evening, it soothed me and made me happy! It was so kind of everyone to be there! I never thought i would ever have the pleasure to have a surprise birthday party some day, but i'm so thankful to all my friends, my family and my husband! All he did for me shows how much he loves me!

...........................

The day after i was on again for a crazy night, as we had invited other friends of mine...

We had cooked something easy but that everyone likes, that is salad, meatloaves, gratin dauphinois, and we had cakes from what was left from the previous evening... It was quite a nice little evening, until Sylvain and Marie arrived, in the middle of out poker game. (I hadn't told them i was getting one year older, but they knew it, for some reason: they got me a beautiful large picture, that i will post here, it was so nice of them!)

Anyway, we went on playing poker almost all night long as others played video games, we smoked a little, we had a good time... then, at around 5 am, Christine decided to bring back a plate of Tartiflette, which is, for those who don't know, some potatoes sliced and cooked with cream and onioins and a huge cheese on top that melts in the oven.... The time it was warm, it was 6 am, and everyone (but me) had a serving! First time i've seen that in my life....

Sunday was not as funny though, as i mostly did the cleaning of two nights partying! But it was worth it!

I hope everyone has some friends like mine, because they can definitely make you happy!