A Perfect Day

I'm not much of a one for celebrating my birthday but I've mellowed with age over recent years. Normally I arrange to be away but commitments meant I had to think differently this time around.

So it was that I awoke to surprisingly warm and sunny weather and decided to have a day off (a perk of the self employed). Whilst others might make the most of bright days, I took off into town to buy a low budget horror film and breakfast. On my return, I closed the curtains, put on the DVD and munched on walnut whips.

One quick change later, I was on the train by midday and heading off to the city. I nipped into an art store for acrylic paints and mooched around bookstores, the market and Afflecks. Come around three o'clock, I met up with Nick outside the Hilton hotel, Manchester's version of a skyscraper. 23 floors up, we had booked ourselves in for an afternoon tea. It was a perfect day for views and we had a stunning panorama to enjoy. The tea itself was phenomenal. Both of us came away fit to bursting. And as a treat, there's an oval panel of perspex you can stand on and see clearly below to street level, with cars passing by underfoot. Not for those who suffer vertigo.

Back home, I opened my cards and presents. I am very lucky and spoilt to receive so many beautiful handcrafted cards. It really makes the day feel very special. Thank you to everyone that reads this, who sent me a card, online message or phone text. It truly humbled me all day.

The present which bowled me over was a special edition book from those heavenly producers of Macarons, Laduree. Regular readers of this blog will know of my addiction to these exquisite delicacies. And they don't let up on the quality when it comes to recipe books. It's packaged in a sturdy box, which you open to find a delicate tissue wrapping. Unfold this and there's a velvet covered hardback. Remove this and the pages crackle as they separate with the previously undisturbed gold painted edges. No photo could do it justice. It's opulent and majestic and I just love it. Oh and the recipes. Yes, there's macarons but it's also packed with how to create their other patisseries, including one for Pain Perdu. The photos in the book are also stunning. It's just perfection from cover to cover. I shall handle it only with white gloves and store it in a glass case lol.

The perfect day was completed, when we relaxed in front of the TV, helping ourselves to a light supper of smoked salmon, wedges of lemon and a dollop of soured cream, made up into canapes. My waistline, arteries and heart won't thank me I know and it'll be cabbage soup from now on until Christmas. :) but it's only once a year haha.