The best of times

My long awaited birthday lunch finally took place on Sunday. A happy coincidence was that here in the UK it was also Mother's Day. 31 of my family and friends met together at a hotel in Epsom and the occasion was absolutely everything and more I had wanted it to be. As with many families as the years go by it gets harder and harder to all meet in the same place at the same time.  I had sent save the date cards such a long time ago but it was worth it as everyone was able to come.
The hotel served my lunch in the restaurant, we had sole use of it for the afternoon.
This was how the room had been set up. It looked perfect and with the sun streaming in through the windows it could not have looked better.

I had also ordered some flower arrangements to decorate the tables. The theme was spring and the florists produced some beautiful displays.

 I had also made butterfly place names which showed everyone where to sit.Next to each place was a little organza gift bag containing a handmade gift from me.

My dear Hb had a cake made for me and it was decorated with yellow icing with blue and yellow icing flowers. There was even a balloon for me which my daughter set at the head of the table.

We enjoyed a fabulous 3 course lunch after which I blew out my birthday candles and cut my cake. It was served with tea and coffee in the lounge. Some of my family I had not seen for 10 years so there was lots of laughter and chatter. It is amazing how quickly the years can disappear.

Some time ago I gave a little hint of the little gift I had planned and I can now reveal all. I decided that a perfect hand made present would be to make bag charms for the ladies and key rings for the men.
One of my talented lampworkers make me one of a kind glass footballs for most of the men.

I also had a keyboard made for my future son-in-law, a guitar for my son and hammers for my Dad and another friend. I added themed charms to make some really fun key rings.

 For the ladies I used an assortment of one of a kind. glass lampwork beads.

Some were flowers, some pretty colours and I again added complementing charms to made individual bag charms. One of my dear cousins came over straight away with her bag charm on her bag, she could not believe that I had used brown beads for hers as she actually had  a brown bag -  a perfect match.

The sun shone, everyone chatted and caught up with all the news and we enjoyed a wonderful meal...... and I finished celebrating a most memorable 50th birthday.








This was the view I had from our round table. I sat up at the end of the table with my Hb,children and their other halves. The setting was small enough though to be able to chat easily. It was a very noisy, happy lunch!

Thank you again to all my blogging friends here for all your kind birthday wishes. I have really appreciated them. I am not sure when I am going to update my profile from calling myself 40 something..perhaps next year ;0), perhaps never!  As everyone keeps reminding me, it's only a number.

I am indeed very blessed and it really was the best of times!

Bye for now,

Jane x