I often struggle around my birthday, but fortunately Rose is very good at celebrations so I’m getting spoiled. We usually get badly depressed this time of year, but with some extra loving and being the other side of 30, it hasn’t been intense this year. Plus my life has gone through so many changes over the past month that my head is still spinning, a birthday hasn’t really had a look in. I’ve finished my working week, which was painting at the Zoo again, good work but painful. Last night was dinner and cards and chocolates with friends, a good laugh as always and just what I needed after a hard week.

Today is presents and breakfast in bed, a trip to the plaster fun house for my kidlets, and a campfire with friends around tonight. There will be baked potatoes and chocolate pudding and hot spiced mead and bunting in the trees. We’re a bit excited! We might be going out dancing at the local goth club tonight too. One or two of us who just freak out have had some time to write in the middle of the night and hide out. Birthdays can be complex when you’re multiple!

Tomorrow Rose is whisking us away on a surprise holiday to I don’t know where. I love trips and I love surprises so this is pretty special. People are looking after my animals while we’re gone. I used to be so lonely and miserable on my birthdays, a hang over from years without friends. Now my world is taking good care of me, and I’m very lucky.