Birthday Week

When Rodney was small he wouldn't have a birthday he would have a birth-week a whole week of celebrations centred around him. It is such a lovely idea because I remember when I was little being upset when my birthday was over and I had to wait another year until it came around again. I still find my birthday is at a bit of an odd time, it marks the end of summer (my favourite season) and the end of the festival so everything always feels a bit flat afterwards.

So Rodney has introduced Birth-week for us as well, and for me it started on Saturday with a night out with all my friends. We had a lovely meal at Nile Valley  a North African restaurant, and then went out dancing at the Jazz bar. It was a great night, loads of people came along, there was a live band at Jazz bar and we all drank jagerbombs and danced until the wee small hours.

Then we had the fireworks on Sunday night, which is always a fun evening, even if we were nursing our hangovers.

On my actual birthday Rodney and I had to work,I haven't had to do that for a few years and it was a bit of a shock to the system. But we ate some cake at work and went out for lunch, so it wasn't too horrendous. 

Rodney got me a bag as my gift, we had seen it when we were in Arran and I had dropped some serious hints. But we left the shop and the island without the bag so I didn't think I would get it. So I was really chuffed when I unwrapped my present to find this.

It's beautiful, really soft leather and is long enough to go across my shoulder, just the way I like it and hidden inside were possibly the tastiest chocolates ever. I am restricting myself to only 1 a day, because I don't want them to end!!

On my birthday night we went out for dinner at the Sun Inn just outside of Edinburgh, it was absolutely amazing, probably one of the best meals I have had in a long time. For starters I had pigeon breast and black pudding and Rodney had smoked mackeral, the black pudding tasted like it was made in house but if not I want to find their butcher.

 I then had duck breast in a orange and cherry sauce for my main and Rodney had an assiette of pork, so he had pork belly, pork cheek wellington and pork medallion. The sauce on my duck was so rich and tasty we got them to bring out some more. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of anything else, I was too excited about eating it!! Rodney was driving so couldn't drink but to finish I had a coffee with a spoonful of condensed milk at the bottom and a shot of espresso followed by a shot of brandy on top. Apparently it is popular in Spain, it was delicious. I would really recommend the Sun Inn if your ever just outside of Edinburgh.

Then yesterday I got some flowers as a wee surprise/ continuation of birthday week.... I could get used to this :-)

What birthday traditions do you have?