Last month I turned 40

40!

I think I am still in denial

That I can possibly be that old

So far, 40 is fine

I feel no different than I did at 39

I was not facing 40 with fear

But with hope

That this decade will not hold as much sorrow as the last

Sadly I am not naive enough to think

It will all be hearts and flowers

As I grow older

People I love grow older

And ten years is a long long time

But before I think about racing to 50

I plan to make the most of being 40

This year of being 40

Is going to be good one

Simple

Homely

Family focused

Mindful

This 40th year of mine

Is going to be a good one

And I have to stay it has started with a BANG!

My first celebration

Was two days in London

With my dearest, bestest friend

And we had a blast!

We headed to the city

To the West End

For an amazing brunch

The Black Penny in Covent Garden

Is brilliant for brunch

Serving great coffee to kick start your day

And some interesting food combinations

That really work

I had the best brunch I have ever had

Brioche French Toast

With stewed rhubarb

Vanilla ricotta, salted pistachios and honey

It was delicious!

After brunch we walked to Trafalgar Square

We headed for the The Original Tour Visitor Centre

Where we were collecting tickets

For The Original Tour Sightseeing Bus

For years I have wanted to tour London

On an open top bus

Every year as my birthday comes around

I talk about it but have never actually done it

Until this year

My 40th year

And I could not have done it with a better person

As excited as children

We boarded the bus

And headed off to see the sights

Sitting on the top deck

With our Scouse tour guide

Gary

He made the trip

He was very friendly

Knowledgeable

And very funny

He made us laugh anyway

Though on this day it did not take much

Gary also taught me so much

That I did not know

About the history of our capital city

And I am definitely going to do the tour again

With the children

When they are a little older

Seeing London from the top of a bus

You realise that everything is much closer

Than you imagine it to be when travelling by tube

It has made me want to spend some spring time in London

Just wandering the streets

We started in Trafalgar Square

Went past St James’ Palace

Where I have such special memories

Of attending a reception for The Lullaby Trust

And telling Emilia Fox all about Matilda Mae

I sobbed all over her

But I will treasure that moment for the rest of my life

And it was wonderful to be reminded of it on my birthday

My 40th birthday

It was also inspiring to be up close to The Houses of Parliament

And Westminster Abbey

And I was again reminded of one of the highlights of my 30s

Speaking at The House of Commons

About Esther and William

For World Prematurity Day 2013

I would love to be able to do that again

I am hoping in my 40s to get more involved

With charity work and campaigning again

It has been a while

Also in my 40s I would like to go inside Westminster Abbey

And light a candle for Baby Tilda

After passing the famous London landmark of Big Ben

We headed over the river

Toward The London Eye

I love The London Eye

I have been on it once

And would love to go again with Esther and William

Who would appreciate it so much more now that they are a little older

Beside the South Bank

Michele and I got off the bus

As advised by the lovely Gary

To take a River Cruise

Up the Thames

To The Tower of London

The Thames River Cruise was wonderful

And again something I now want to do with the children

We are off to the O2 in Decemnber

And I think that we will go there by boat

I loved seeing all the sights from The Thames

A different perspective on the city

And a very knowledgeable, incredibly funny tour guide

Who had us in stitches along the way

Tower Bridge is an amazing sight

More than ever from the river

It was one of the highlights of the day for me

I have never been inside the tower

It is on my list of things to do

Michele had memories of visiting

When she was a little girl

We got back on the bus

In the rain

Determined not to let the weather

Spoil our day

We rode the bus back to the city

Passing Downing Street

Horse Guard’s Parade

And spotting the Queen’s Land Rover

At Buckingham Palace

We really did have the best time

On our Original Tour

Seeing the sights

Learning the history of London through the ages

Learning snippets of information

About how our language has been shaped

By events from the past

For example, did you know

Marble Arch is where public executions took place

People were brought from prison to the place by wagon

They were allowed to stop for one last jug of ale on route

Their final drink

‘One for the road’

Before getting back

‘On the wagon’

And never drinking again

Gary told us lots of stuff like this

I wish I had written it all down

Back past Trafalgar Square

Past The Ritz

We got off the bus near Picadilly Circus

And walked to our dinner reservation

Back in the West End

We had the most amazing Brazilian dinner

At Cabana Brasil

The food was amazing

Atmosphere charming

And the chance for Michele and I

To sit together and talk

Really talk

Was just wonderful

Being a busy mummy

I do miss quality time with my friend

Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
Oh I don’t care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together
The way old friends do

We can face it together
The way old friends do
Abba

After dinner we walked through Covent Garden

Enjoying enormous ice cream cones

From Scoop

Yum yum yum!

And then it was time

As a treat for my 40th

We were going to see Mamma Mia

We had splashed out and booked a box

And we were so so so excited

We were very excited about the show

About singing our hearts out

And dancing in our box

What we had not realised

Was that when you book a box at The Novello

You do not only get your theatre seats

But a private lounge

And your very own loo

We had our own loo!

No interval and end of show queuing for us!

We were very very very excited

The show of Mamma Mia

Is just amazing

I smiled

I laughed

I cried

I sang every word to every song

And yes …

We boogied in our box

It was a magical night

And one I will never ever forget

Who knew 40 could be so much fun!

I feel like my two year old toddler

Shouting ‘Again, again’

But I do really want to do it all again

Especially seeing the show

What a capital time we had in the city

What sights we saw

What songs we sang

And what truly amazing memories we made

Lets go again soon, Michele

We must must must do it again

Thank you to The Original Tour Company for inviting me to spend my special day on the buses