apparently older

The 30th birthday came and went, and it was a good day. I like finding a reason to celebrate and be cheery with friends, and if you agree that my birthing is worth celebrating, then such was the case!

Karen woke me up, several times, before I rolled over and groaned. It was a spritely start to the day. But she persisted and I managed to draw back the tectonic eyelids to see a small, oddly shaped, white wrapped thing with a bright orange bow around it. My very own ceramic chubby orange chicken! Pictures to come...

As an aside, for those who don't know, I have a small fascination with kitschy chicken things.

The bike ride to school was great, and none of the drivers tried to share my lane with me! How considerate! By about 7:20 I managed to crank my neck around to see a beautiful sun rise - heaps of pink, orange, and violet streaked across the puffy mass above, and wisps of cold morning breath across the fields below. This is what I ride for.

At school a friend offered to buy me a wee dram, but we had to wait until 11:00am. We found a sunny spot that was reasonably warm and enjoyed coffee until 11:00 came about - and I was treated to one of my favourites, Laphroaig 10 year. A double, actually. Good friends indeed! I found myself in a very warm, relaxed state for the rest of the morning.

Apparently The Bodhi Tree restaurant is a landmark in the city, and it was highly recommended to us. Unfortunately it's also a small place and bookings have to be made weeks in advance. So, taking a page from my Dad's book of 'How to Think You're Able to Influence People', I left a long sappy message on their answering machine about how we're new to town, did I mention it's my 30th?... today?!, and they found us a table. Dinner was fantastic. Tea-leaf salad, Nga Hin (Methinks it was Halibut, in tomato/cilantro/chili/other stuff), roasted mushrooms with sesame seed, and a beef curry (with clove, yum!) that was perfectly tender. All enjoyed with an excellent bottle of Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett 2007. Gorgeous wine!

And then we came home and passed out.

Thanks everyone for the messages, cyber-bouquets, and cards. It was a good day.

something's rotting...

This is really a time-kill post. I've just spent the past few hours reading and note-taking all that I can on ... a fungus. I have a 20-page write-up due in 1 week, and it's about a fungus. Man does life ever come down from this high?

The program, as maybe evidenced by my absence from this space, is still nuts.

I think if I hurry I may be in time for some good night cuddles, provided Karen hasn't passed out.

Hope all's well with everyone out there, wish I had a bit of time to write more. Would love to read about your lives though, if you have the time and inclination.