Well, I don't feel another year older yet, though each morning the mirror tells me to get real, and that this is indeed the case!
Perhaps I do feel a little wiser, or more experienced, than I did last year, which is a good thing.  But one thing I do feel is extremely fortunate, and would like to start by thanking all of you who sent me birthday wishes, cards and presents. I had such a lovely day, starting with opening my cards.  I spent so long over this that Mr Cooper had to hurry me on to opening presents, as we were then setting out for our first long walk together since June.
Just a quick resume of the day here.......and for those of you under 50, please try to stifle those yawns.  And no, I don't need any advice as to how to spend an enjoyable day, this is it!
First, decide on your route for your walk at least the day before, and preferably pack your rucksack
 (I did warn you that you might be bored, you young things) the night before.
Just for once, Mr Cooper was super smug and ready early, whilst I was still dashing round, collecting essential items at 8.58am, ready for our 9am start.
Then, drive to Selborne and start your walk, enjoying the lovely autumn day.  A sunny day, just like the day that I was actually born (Mum tells me this on my birthday each year).  The best thing about a birthday is lots of people are genuinely nice to you.  Mr Cooper was very lenient throughout the walk, with any signs of tetchiness put on the back burner.  When I thanked him for being with me, as it was 'my most favourite thing to do ever' he didn't then list what his most favourite things ever were.
 And, although really happy and excited, I stopped myself saying to each person I met that it was my birthday.  To make the day even better, it would have been great if I had done so, and each fellow walker then produced from his bag a beautifully wrapped present.......
But that is perhaps having too much imagination!  Let's focus a little on what is real.  Here is a photo taken of the destination of our walk, Noar Hill near Selborne.

What better thing to do after a 7-8 mile walk than to have a pint in a country pub.  Going into the Selborne Arms is always a little magical, and however full the pub is, our favourite seat is almost always empty, and ready for us.  Another wonderful thing is that you can buy a pint in 3 thirds, so you can try that stupidly dark beer that you know you won't actually like, but are weirdly drawn towards.  See below for evidence of the same.

After last week's pie and beer evening, after consuming the incredibly strong beer extremely slowly, drinking a third of a pint of very dark beer was actually a breeze. We had our usual pub lunch, too.  Crisps and nuts.  https://www.selbornearms.co.uk/
When we got back to 'The Gables' instead of doing anything that I should do, I had a little lie down, accompanied by some very important accessories.  A good classic detective story, a glass of red wine, and too much chocolate.  Mr Cooper also had a lie down, minus the book and wine, but was well up for the chocolate.
Although I did enjoy the classic detective story, 'The Hog's Back Mystery', by Freeman Wills Croft, first published in 1933, my book of the week has to be this one.

Set on the Isle of Wight (already winning) in 1864, and featuring Tennyson, Lewis Carroll and others,  it is indeed, as the Sunday Telegraph says, 'Enormously entertaining, a delicious confection'.

Back to the present.  Me and Mr Cooper are now awake, dressed for the evening, and ready to go somewhere that we usually go to once a year, but would love to visit once a month.  Yes, it has to be 'Fat Olives' in Emsworth.  We have always had exceptionally good food there, and we are always amongst the youngest there, another plus for when you are getting to be 'well old'.
The only drawback to the whole day was that when we were walking home from Emsworth, as it was just before 10 when we left Fat Olives, we were looking forward to having a quick one in The Travs, only to find it closed at 10.30!
I have just finished painting another sign for the managers of 'The Travs'......perhaps I should have included some opening times too!

I did manage to stretch out my birthday a little, by including Sunday as a sort of honorary birthday.  This meant I was able to watch the start of Flambards, woohoo!

 Mark sent me the DVD for my birthday present.  Mr Cooper had not seen it when it was on TV in the late seventies/early eighties so he had no nostalgic glow about it.  In fact, when we had watched the first 'feature length' episode, his only comment was that there were '4 discs to get through!' This comment was made with horror, not happiness.  I think he will find that watching one episode each weekend will soon become a pleasure, and if not, he can just sit quietly while I do.
I also made a dessert on Sunday, using a recipe that looks a little boring in the book, but is such a delicious and refreshing dessert.  We had it the previous week, to follow the pie, and Mr Cooper was a little sad as he felt (quite rightly) that me and Nigel had eaten more than our fair share of the caramel shards. So making it again, just for the two of us meant that we could both eat much more than our fair share of caramel shards. Result!

When I went to work on Tuesday, I also was given some more presents, this time from Sam.  He had warned me that although he had bought me the best T shirt ever, I might just have to display it and not wear it!  Something to do with it being for a 3-4 year old.

Well, I will display it, but in a way where it can be seen by lots of people.*  I showed Mr Cooper my present when I had just got back from an early morning swim, and he said 'If you keep swimming and lose lots of weight, then one day it will fit'.
 I fear that Mr Cooper is not very tactful when he is first awake!

In my last blog I was feeling excited about 3 new commissions.  Last week I had a shock when the 23 book illustrations appeared to be shelved, out of the blue.  Now I am relieved, as they are required once more, but not so many.
 I was to have painted 3 boards for the pub, but that has become only 2.  Oh well, it has paid for my car's new exhaust, with a little bit over for a visit to the hairdresser.  It was a little too optimistic to think that my car tax would also be taken care of.
But the commission to complete painting the inside of Dilly, the vintage caravan belonging to Rose and Paul is steaming ahead.  I have also been commissioned to start decorating the outside of Dilly, perhaps focusing on a front corner to start with.
Here is the most amazing Dilly,

and here is the link for you to find out more about her place in the work of Rose and Paul.
www.facebook.com/herbsmagickpath

Well, another week has ended and another almost begun, and this week ended on an unexpected note.
Birthday flowers from Molly!

Thank you Molly, and thank you everyone yet again for your cards, messages and gifts.  I am ready now to face the world  having got used to being a whole year older, and sadly, after all my chocolate eating, perhaps I should up the exercise regime!
Leaving you with those thoughts, now the days are getting shorter, making sure you do get regular exercise becomes more important for our well-being.  It is a lot harder to leave a warm bed when it is dark outside, and set off for the swimming pool, but when you are there, the water is no colder and you leave feeling a lot better.  We can't change the fact that winter is soon upon us, but we can help ourselves to work to enjoy and not endure it.  So look for those training shoes, swimming costumes, exercise classes, and give yourself a boost.  Then you can reach for a little chocolate before closing the curtains at 5 o'clock.

So, just share the chocolate love between family and friends, or be like Colin, and share it with the whole nation!  He made Erich a happy birthday cake to celebrate his first birthday, and so successful was the final result that it made it onto 'The Extra Slice!  Here is Erich,

and here is his very own birthday cake, in his likeness.......

Congratulations both to Erich and to Colin.
So just get out there and get baking and laughing too, another good way to soften the blow which is winter.  See you all very soon, happy baking!



*What you can do with a small T shirt, a bag and ribbon! (Plus 2 hours)