Big Birthday Act One

As we were busy at church for most of the day on Sunday, we celebrated my birthday on Saturday. Jamie and the kids had all sorts of surprise treats in store for me. So I dressed up a bit and did my make-up meticulously. Because I knew we'd take photos. I usually avoid photos of me.
They gave me all sorts of lovely presents.Including a much needed new camera. Our old one was great (Yvonne) but showing its age. A bit like me. Jack plays with it, while I try to figure out what this attachment was. A hood?
I always insist on reading out loud what people have written in cards! Even if they did send me a card with the number 5O on the front.
This one is better. It has my true age on the front.We drove into Oxford and walked to a secret destination. Oxford is such a chic city, I was glad I'd taken care over my make-up.

Little known to me, they'd booked me in for a massage and a facial at a beauty salon. Which I loved! An hour and a half of Pure Bliss.

But, of course, the first thing the beauty therapist did was to take off all my make up. Which was going to leave me nude for the rest of the evening out.

I think that's the first time I've been out in public 'au naturel' in 35 years. In case you think this is a very bad case of vanity, I do have some awful acne scars from when I was a teenager which I'm quite sensitive about.

We wondered around the old covered market.

Then they took me for a fabulous Italian restaurant, where the food had to be ordered! I mean, it wasn't even an AllYouCanEat buffet! What luxury!Did I mention that I had no make up with me?After the meal we walked over towards the old Motte and Bailey area of the town and Oxford Castle. This served as the city's gaol for, I don't know, centuries?

I did start to feel a little apprehensive at this point, as the gaol has been converted into a luxury hotel called Unlocked.

But I just didn't fancy spending a night in a cell, no matter what they've done to it.Nope, it just doesn't say 'pampered' to me.Ah, but it was the courtyard which was our destination. An open air showing of Hamlet, with the tower as the fitting backdrop for Elsinore.
Brilliant. A great decision on the part of the celebration planners!The theatre company rent out blankets, which was lucky because it has been known to get a little chilly in the evenings in Denmark.

And it has even been known to rain. Open Air Theatre. We loved it! Sadly, it had to be cancelled shortly after Ophelia drowned.

Yes, the rain was THAT bad!
But it was a fabulous day, which I'll remember for a long time!