it was the 27th of february and it’s the day i look forward to most. my birthday :) those of you who know me will know that i love birthdays. and not just mine for that matter! i am the person that goes large for anyone’s birthday and it’s because i honestly believe people need to know how special they are ESPECIALLY on their day of birth. after all, your birthday is the day you came out into the world.
i was in johannesburg with my family and having an amazing time for the week. one of my best birthday memories yet! mekarl came up on friday night and we made our way to one of my best friends shevonne’s house. after mekarl’s flight got delayed we only arrived at 10pm, but boy did we make for it with lots of laughs, braai meat and tons of wine (i paid for that the next day!) saturday was gold reef city day. i am obsessed with thrill rides and gold reef is one awesome theme park. i did, however, chicken out on the 2 biggest rollercoasters: the golden loop and the anaconda. redemption is necessary and soon because my brother is not letting me hear the end of it! that evening we went to such an awesome place, recommended by my uncle, sunthoshan. it’s called cantare and it’s at monte casino. really such a novel idea because it’s a supper theatre with a twist – a dinner place with live entertainment and a dance floor. the live entertainment included live music, show tunes, dancing puppets, belly dancing and a very special happy birthday song to me :) yes, i was called up onto the stage and was sung happy birthday! the food was phenomenal to say the least. i had the veal saltimbocca – tender veal fillets coated in sauce with pancetta on a bed of linguine served with seasonal vegetables.
mekarl and i at gold reef city
mahesh on the anaconda
the beautiful custom made box my earrings came in
we got back home just before midnight when everyone waited up for my birthday and saw it in. it really was a birthday filled with love and started my day off on such a positive note. my amazing boyfriend got me the most gorgeous diamond earrings and my parents THIS NEW LAPTOP! things i really appreciated and really didn’t expect at all. we awoke relatively early, had ourselves a yummy breakfast of eggs, mince curry, baked beans and bacon sausages, and the proceeded to the lion park!
after much indecisiveness on my part because of wanting to please everyone, a 20km drive to the cradle of humankind and back, the lion park was decided on and it was my best decision. i love lions and i love nature drives. we got to see so many lions as well as play with lion cubs. one took the playing too far with mahesh and jumped on him and bit the side of this lower back! rather entertaining to say the least!!!
we had a little birthday party when we got back home joined by my uncle and aunt, sunthosh and melissa and boy do they know me! some of the most useful gifts i ever got were given namely – turkish figs and sundried tomato balsamic reduction; cape lemon and olive oil splash, truffle infused olive oil, saffron and a jamie oliver cheeky mug :) i could not have been more excited and am now looking for recipes in which to use these very special ingredients! (keep a look out for these delicious ingredients in recipes to come!)
all in all, a fabulous week with my family and a really special birthday! lessons learnt? i have realised after this past year that you need to focus on the people who love you, the people who despite your own contention, keep coming back into your life with love and to stay positive always. i am so grateful for my amazing parents, my brother who is also my closest friend, my perfect match in mekarl and all of my beautiful no nonsense friends.
to my twenty third year – cheers :)
xo
