Birthday Tea

Yesterday was my birthday. 24 and counting! It was also the hottest day of the year so far and we sweltered at work. I really think we ought to take a leaf out of Spain's book and have a siesta afternoon when the temperature goes above 25 degrees Celsius. Then again, I am enjoying finally having a summer season.

After work we went to one of my favourite places on Ashdown Forest, Friends Clump, to have a birthday picnic. It was beautiful out there, the wind gently rustling the trees and the sun shinning into the dappled shade.

It was a real family affair and one car in the car park turned into six as more family members turned up and joined the party. We weren't rowdy, and were soon joined by sheep grazing all around us, pulling up the grass and munching loudly. It was nice to be joined by the locals for tea.

Such a blue, blue sky! Not a cloud in it, quite brilliant.

The Parent's had tried really hard to find a pretty birthday cake that wouldn't melt in the heat, and Dad chose this cupcake platter. However, by the time we got around to cake, the icing was sliding off the sponge in thick creamy waves and we had to spoon it back on and re-fashion cupcake shapes. They were pretty yummy all the same.

We stayed for about two and a half hours, and the sun was just starting to sink behind our tree friends by the time we left, clearing up all rubbish and traces of ourselves. Another birthday and another year marked and celebrated.