Lovely Birthday

I had a really lovely birthday!! (And we're going out for a posh meal on Saturday so the celebrating hasn't stopped yet!!!).

Chris woke me up with a cup of tea and then made us both scrambled egg on toast for brunch which we had with champagne (Ooohhh...we are naughty!!) and then I got to open my pressies. I knew there was a good reason that I married him......I wanted to buy something special with the money that I earned from my first proper commission and had decided that a nice piece of furniture (Chinese or Thai style) would be a lovely thing to get. I'd not had time to start looking so for my birthday he decided to add to my budget so that I could get something really spectacular.......and then he bought me a couple of pressies so that I had something to open on the day!! He is a rather wonderful husband but don't tell him I said that cause he'll get all big headed!!! I got this stunning necklace and matching bracelet (aren't they fab!!!) and a pack of watercolour pencils as a wee extra because I had been going on about them!!!

After our brunch we jumped in a taxi and headed along to a furniture shop called Kalae which I've heard loads about it but have never visited (Ha...you can so tell it was my birthday can't you.....you know how much Chris loves shopping!!). I have to say that it was rather like walking into an Aladdin's Cave of furniture and wee quirky things. They had tons of stuff that I liked but nothing that I really fell in love with and I want to get something that I love - in saying that, we did buy this picture. Well, it's not really a picture.....it's a Thai Amulet mounted on glass and set in a bamboo frame and we both thought it was stunning. (When we got it home Moon told us that it is supposed to bring good luck - let's hope it works!!). After visiting there we went and had a look round another shop which we have bought a few wee things from called 100 Children. They had a couple of really nice things but they were antique and so over budget (I have expensive taste....sigh!!) but we had (Or maybe that should be I had) a lovely afternoon browsing.

We went back to the apartment and relaxed for an hour or so before Marissa and Moon joined us for birthday cake....I didn't even know that I was getting a birthday cake and had to laugh when Chris appeared with it. Do you like my birthday candles? Moon gave me her present.....I think it is so sweet that she gets me a present.....they are always a bit random......but I love them because they are from her!! This year it was a miniature teapot, cup and saucer set. Marissa bought me a carrot keyboard cushion (She's getting me back for the mobile phone holder I bought her for Christmas) and a beautiful box of smelly stuff (Bath oils, body scrub etc....just thought I should clarify). Then we went to the Saxophone Bar and spent the evening listening to a very good live blues band (and laughing at a very camp man in the worst cardigan I have ever seen....but I wont go into that!!)

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Thank you to everyone who sent me cards, e-mails, e-cards, text messages and that left messages here and on my facebook.....they made my day really special :-)

I'm doing a happy dance

We went shopping on Saturday for my birthday prezzy (yes, I know it's early but it was a holiday weekend so we thought we would take advantage of it).

I have recently discovered Vietnamese Lacquer paintings and I have to say that they are absolutely beautiful (I like the work of Dinh Quan which is pictured here - fab aren't they!!)..... so when Chris asked me what I wanted for my birthday I said that I quite fancied a painting. The first gallery we went into had one that was incredible but it was also bloody huge and bloody expensive so we headed to another Gallery that my friend had told me about. They didn't have any but the woman who owned the place told me I was better buying one in Vietnam because they are a hell of a lot cheaper there - She also said that some Vietnamese artists are known for painting the same thing again and again then selling them as original pieces so there are god knows how many 'originals' of each painting!! (I'm sure that not all Vietnamese artists do this)......so that was that idea out the window!!

Then I remembered that there was an amazing cheese board made from bamboo that I had seen. It had a hole at the side for your wine bottle and then a flat section for cheese and biscuits and it turned - very unusual and I completely loved it!! We went to the shop....it seems that everyone had loved it.....they had sold out and the woman in the store didn't think they would get any more!! (Now I was getting a bit depressed not to mention running out of ideas!!).

We then had a wee walk through Paragon Passage which has a vast array of unusual Thai arts and crafts but I just wasn't seeing anything that jumped out at me and I didn't want to get something for the sake of it so I told Chris that we should just call it quits. He decided to have a quick nosy round the CD's so I went down to the art department and that is when I saw it!!! It's beautiful isn't it......has a built in lightbox and everything!!! I went from feeling slightly depressed to absolutely over the moon (that is over THE moon not over Moon the person!!) It arrived on Sunday so we went out and bought a chair and a little elephant table to go with it - this is the view I now have when I am drawing!!

(Not only that but Chris also bought me a huge cutting mat, another cutter with blades (for my wall decals), some fine tip pens, a couple of pencils and a carry case to put my prints - I am very spoiled and am doing a happy dance!!)