Another year, another birthday

So on the 16th of this month, more or less 10 days ago, I had another birthday. My 32nd to be more precise. Contrary to many other people, I actually like getting older. I mean, I have nothing against people knowing my age and as long as the years come one at the time I embrace every new year with open arms. I think the key is to do something special out of every year: like studying something you always wanted to learn, travel somewhere you always wanted to visit, make new acquaintances or simply make sure you are having a good time with people you love. For me, I have been happy with what I have accomplished with each year and I think that keeps me happy in general. This year I'm going through something very special: I'm   pregnant with my first child. What makes it even more special to me is that I get to experience it alongside the love of my life. Together we are a team and that is such a reassuring thought.

From my birthday get-together - the first one with children invited, but definitely not the last

The day after my birthday I had my 2nd  scan(well it was actually the 3rd, because we had to do the 1st one twice). It was an exciting day as we got to see our little one again. It was confirmed that we are indeed expecting a boy. He was sleeping during the scan and the doctors couldn't take all the measurements in the angle he was lying so I had to shake my belly and jump up and down to wake him up so he would move. He did indeed wake up and didn't seem to be happy at all and gave me some angry kicks I could definitely feel! Later in the evening, D could feel the first kicks from the outside as well.

Our little boy

As a parent-to-be you always worry about the child's health and you may come across people for example born with only one kidney or just with one arm and you think: what if that happens to my child? You never know. I carefully asked the doctors during the scan if you could detect cerebral palsy during a scan. The answer was "no" but she reassured me it wasn't common. D then said that we had worried a bit and because we had been watching the paralympics the previous weeks, we had suddenly gotten even more ideas in our heads to be worried about. The doctor was a bit surprised but laughed and said, "don't watch the paralympics if you're pregnant and sensitive". Crazy parent-to-be worries... :-)

Another year

Yesterday was my birthday. I have never really had any problems with getting older. I celebrate every year that has passed thinking of all the lovely experiences I had. I don't want to be 25 again. Sure, it was fun but so is 30 and 31 (I hope!) you learn so many new things from all the experiences you acquire through the years so going back to 25 means you wouldn't be quite the same person life shaped you to be now at 31, for example. I like who I am now. When I look back I see someone less mature - not immature- but less than now, which means I think I'm getting to a stage that makes me feel like I'm becoming a better person with each year. Like a good wine I become better with time! Ah sweet ego! :-)

annoying

Last Friday I went out with a few friends to celebrate another friend's birthday. The evening started out great. I met up with my friend MK and her friend (and now also my friend) MR for a meal in a cosy French bistro restaurant. After the meal and a few laughs we went on walking to the nightclub. It is called Chinawhite and is quite a posh place, but because our friend MD (who's birthday we were celebrating) had put us on the guest list we were able to get in.

The fun continued on the dance floor, chillax area, the bar and even the VIP area. Great fun, until I felt my feet and me were too tired to continue dancing and the club closed. So I took my jacket and headed for the exit with a friend. Out on the street I reach for my mobile in my party handbag, but can't find it. Earlier in the evening, the shoulder strap broke and the bag fell on the floor so I had to carry it like a clutch bag for the rest of the evening, but I didn't mind because that kind of looked nice, I though.

What must have happened is that my mobile fell out of the bag that moment. I went back into the club with my friend who helped me look for my beloved mobile n the dance floor, the bar, the VIP area and the chillax area... It was nowhere to be found and it was easy to look as well the the club had closed and most people were already out of the club. Nothing in the lost and found. So a few friends call my mobile to check if it is with someone or if we can hear it.

It had been turned off. That just happens if the person who found it has no intention of returning it to its' rightful owner. So even if I lost the mobile, someone took it after that.

Luckily, HTC (the brand of my phone) has a personalised web service from where you can control your mobile remotely. The morning after, I connected to my htc sense page and tried to localise my mobile on the map, but it was impossible because the mobile was turned off. So I just blocked it from there. The only comfort I get from that is that the bastard who took it won't get any joy from it. I think it's such an ugly thing to steal other people's belongings. I work hard for my money and it was a big deal for me to buy my first smartphone. I really loved that phone.

Hopefully it won't take too long to get a replacement phone from my insurance, but it's not fun to wait. It's damn annoying, actually!

60

... is the age you would have turned today. I can't say Happy birthday because it's not a happy day...not for us. Without you. But we try to think positively and celebrate the good times we had together - and gosh - there were so many of them. Love you forever.

30

Today is my birthday. I am turning 30. Actually I was born in the middle of the day on the 16th of September 1980, so technically I'm not 30 yet. It is a few minutes after midnight now so I have to go to bed. I also have another big thing coming up tomorrow: My last day at work. I think it's going to be an emotional day. Both happy and sad.

It will be my first birthday without my dear father. That hurts very much. But in some way I know he will be here watching over me. Like in the poem below, by Henry Scott Holland. I have to think that he is still here, just not the way I am used to.

Now I will remove my belly button piercing. I think I just outgrew it. ;-)

Before

After

Feliz cumpleaños D!

Going for a retro look. My darling looks good in anything!

Miss you a lot!

Today is a very special day. Not because it's a sunny day in London - it's because it's my handsome hubby's birthday. Today he is 32 years young. But he looks like he just turned 25! I feel bad that I can't be there in Madrid with D today, because I would really like to celebrate his special day properly, but I will make it up to him after my CFA exam. I promise!

SURPRIIIISE!!

My cake - isn't it lovely?
My great ex colleagues at Alteon

Juan with D's mom MC and sister Aina and her boyfriend Alberto . Happy picture!

Friend S with D's youngest sister L and friend C

I took a deep breath and thought it would be easy peazy to blow out all the candles on my own, but I was wrong... too many candles!!! Got some help from D's god daughter...

Out and about in the legendary pub "Karajo"

My god!!! We arrived in Palma late last night me and D. A dinner to celebrate my birthday with D and his family was scheduled. Well that's what I though anyway!! When D told me to go into the kitchen to say hi to Bobby - the dog - I though it was a bit weird... "I can say hi to him later" I thought... But the door opened and in the dark kitchen I saw a gathering of people and suddenly the lights came on and all my friends and D's family were there!! "SORPRESA!!!" they yelled as I entered the kitchen. I was speechless for a good minute! There was a lot of food on the table that was absolutely amazing. D's parents had spent the whole day preparing it. Everything was so unexpected and so nicely organised I was very touched. The master mind behind all of this was of course D but I heard that my wonderful friend M was also very active in the plan. Great job!

After the party we went out to the best bar in Mallorca: The Karajo. There we danced, sang (shouted) and laughed together. It was a great night.

I am so thankful and happy I have all of these lovely people in my life!!!

PS. Pictures coming soon!

Update: see pics above!!!

Not this one - the next one!

So this is my last birthday as a "twenty-something" I'm no where near a crisis and life is still jolly good! Should I be worried about the next one? The big 3-0? Will I break down and cry and think about the things I haven't achieved or will that happen at 40? Scary to think I am only 11 years from turning 40!!! But I'll worry about that when that day comes! Today I will go out for a nice meal with some friends and D.

A very special day...

My darling having pancakes in New York

My little meatball turns 31 today!!! I bought his present (a leather jacket) 2 weeks ago, but I wanted his birthday to be special so, to celebrate that I took him to a restaurant for some grub. It was a Turkish restaurant in Covent Garden called Sofra. We stuffed ourselves with very nice mezes hummus and toasted with some fine Turkish wine. Delicious!

When D turned 30 last year he wanted his birthday to last for 30 days. That was one of his birthday requests! I had to treat him with extra well with things such as an extra piece of dessert, a foot massage or me not being able to get mad at him doing silly stuff... Well, it turns out he liked that so much that he requested a 30 day birthday this year as well... Some nerves, huh?!! So... 1 down, 29 to go... Happy birthday to youooooo.....

Happy birthday bro'!!!!

Birthday boy

On the 16th of April 27 years ago, I got a brother. I cant say I remember that day because I was only 1 year and 7 months old back then, but it was a big day for the Englund family.

A feisty child is what he was, but also the funnest AND funniest. People say you live longer if you laugh a lot, so I probably will live a few years longer thanks to my brother. One of the most inventive (and weird) pop songs I have heard was created by him and it was called: "Inga-Lill smuggleded herring". Absolutely brilliant.

By the way, my bro' doesn't sport that lovely fro' you can see in the picture, although it would be fun if he did...

Grattis på födelsedagen brorsan!!!! Happy birthday brother!!!! Feliz cumpleaños hermanito!!!! Otanjoubi omedetou otouto!!! Bonne anniversaire fraire!!!!

Yesterday was Valentine's day...

...which means today is my Mom's birthday! 15th of Feb! Congratulations, Mom! Grattis på födelsedagen, Mamma!

Today is a very special day....

...because it's my best friend Maria Friström's birthday!! She is like the maple syrup on my pancakes: Yummy!! Happy birthday!! Grattis på födelsedagen!