The 21st & 22nd; Birthday!

The 21st of January.  Birthday! Had to get up super early which I didn't love but it was for a good reason. I had a pain au chocolat for breakfast, then opened some of my presents. I got a box of macarons from Macarons & More from Grandma, a book token and a big journal from the Hudsons, a cheque from Taid, and some Moomin paraphernalia from Mommy and Daddy - a t-shirt, a notepad and pencil, and a wooden Little My that I need to assemble.

Our train to London was at 10:10, so we set off shortly after breakfast, and we were taken to the train by a woman with a very laissez-faire attitude which I did not care for. I also didn't like being in coach A because it means I can't really talk to the people I'm travelling with, but there was at least a fun baby who smiled at me when I made faces at her. 

We didn't have time to wait for the Euston team to turn up, so got the chair off the train and went to get a cab to the South Bank, where we met up with Christine. We then went on a twenty minute trek in the cold to Where the Pancakes Are, but their misleading website said they would have some free tables for walk-ins, but there was nothing, so I told the woman she had ruined my birthday and left feeling very disappointed. 

Very nearby was a Caravan restaurant where they had many tasty dishes available and nice coffee, so then I was greatly cheered. I had a flat white, then smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on toast with a mimosa. Christine gave me my presents which were two Harrods cronuts (salted caramel and Speculoos and the zebra one), then Daddy had a pudding and I had more coffee. 

We got a taxi back to the South Bank because I couldn't bear to get that cold again, then we had an hour to kill in the Royal Festival Hall before our Moomins exhibition tour. I went to the shop and bought a little stuffed Moomin and a bowl. 

The tour was lots of fun and very informative - it's narrated by Sandi Toksvig, along with the tour guide, which was a lovely surprise, and there were lots of original illustrations and stuff that I would never have seen otherwise. I also really liked that they didn't just gloss over the fact that she was gay and are teaching the children going on this tour that it's okay and not something to be ashamed of. I think we need to be reminding kids that whatever they are is okay at the moment. The only bad bit was that it was not easy in the wheelchair - we actually had to collapse it and I did a lot of crouching in each room. It would be fine in a manual one with big wheels but the spaces are too small and the floor too uneven for anything else. We coped, but other people might not. The tour guide was very helpful and apologetic, and she promised to feed it back. 

Our next stop was Konditor & Cook to pick up my birthday cake, then we headed to the BFI for hot beverages and a rest before we had to go back to Euston. I had a hot chocolate, and did a lot of coughing which worried me but I think it was just because of the temperature change between there and outside. 

We saw many people who'd been to the Women's March, which I would have loved to have gone to, but if I had, I would have definitely got ill. It was so cold today, I couldn't have coped, even in a mass of people. Wonderful, but not sensible for me. 

When it was time, we said goodbye to Christine, then back to Euston. I got some Pom Bears and New Scientist, and when we got home, it was time for cake!

The 22nd of January. 

So tired today. I had a really bad night, not getting to sleep until past one, which is way too late for me. I got up at half past nine, put on some very warm clothes and settled in to spend my morning writing about yesterday. 

This afternoon, I was about to start writing the post I would have done yesterday, but then Alison came over with my birthday presents (more wool and flowers) and there was some catching up to do. Becky is full of lurgy so can't come round herself, so we got all her news by proxy. It sounds like the cold Grandma's got and I do not want either of their germs. 

We put the flowers she brought me in a vase, and I was able to finish my writing, which didn't take long. Tomorrow won't be so quick as there was a lot to say about my birthday. Then I got to work on otter number 2. I've made everything except his ears and snout, so I'll get him finished this evening. When I'm done, it'll be an early night. I need a big sleep.