The first day of my thirties

Ha! What a beautiful day. It all started on thursday night when my colleagues and I all went out to celebrate Danielle going on her maternity leave and my 30th birthday and just a friendly get-together night out.

After work, I met Nick and Martin at the hotel they were staying overnight and we had a pre-dinner drink, then we walked to the Mexcian restaurant Charlie's Horse in Windsor, where the two Sarah's (who organised the dinner) and Peter were already drinking Mojitos. We had very good fun and average food. I think it is the best quality time I've ever had with the girls on my team, especially the young Hannah.

On Friday, it was a serie of surprises, I don't remember doing a lot of work :P I arrived with lots of nice cakes and while I was preparing the cakes in the kitchen everyone walked in to wish me a happy birthday and those in their 30's to bid me welcome to the club. I think it is cool - there is no club at 20, but 30 does! I like the sound of that, it seems fair. Then Ann and Hannah sung Happy Birthday when I walked in and I had a card and bottle of champagne from everyone in the office, I also had emails from my friends and colleagues overseas.

By lunch time, I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my darling husband, I was so excited, then Martin, Nick and Peter took me out for lunch, it was great, it was the first time we were just the 4 of us and I left the office on Ron's words of wisdom "be careful, 30's are very dangerous years, because you think you are wiser and smarter than your 20's but you aren't".

Later I met Alex in Waterloo as he was taking me out to a comedy club on the Thames river boat. Nadine, Jaco, Dan and Julie were there too, we had drinks and then enjoyed the serie of comedians; I truly had a great time, laughing till my sides hurt.

Danielle, Gary, Sue and Julie
The UK team girls: Julie, Jane, Hannah, me and Ann (the bride to be)
Peter, Sarah E, Sarah K, Martin and Nick
This was Monday night in Germany, Emma, Manny, me and Beth