Bountiful Belfast

So, last Monday the Mad One turned 40. What a delight, as the more people who reach that age, the younger I feel. We spent last weekend partying with family as the Ambassadrice came home from Paris and the Fit One made it all the way from New Zealand. We had a great four days, culminating in a birthday party in BMM's on Sunday, involving the magnificent cake from The Flying Bbay Cake Company, a gluten free masterpiece, incorporating the Mad One sitting on her big red couch surrounded by her favourite things ie. the children, wine bottles, Hello magazine, coookery books and pots and pans. It was truly fantastic, as you can see, and the vanilla sponge with strawberry cream tasted amazing......there isn't a crumb left. The Mad One delighted us by fulfilling her life long ambition of singing a song from start to finish ( she only ever does the first two lines)We loved her version of "Bright Blue Rose" by Mary Black, but was so nervous she sang to a blank wall in BMM's kitchen. I think I may change her name to Shirley Valentine !
This weekend,a chosen group which included, the Caribbean Queen, Culchie Dub,Stage School Mum, Maxi, the FA, Blonde, Newly Single, the Sexy Seamstress and the Country Cousin headed off to Belfast, to continue the celebrations. Oh boy, did Belfast deliver. It is a fantastic city. We did the Victoria Shopping Centre, 2Taps tapas bar, St. Georges Market and the residents bar of the Premier Inn ( everythings's Premier except the Price !).....a long story involving a short Marathon runner with a very sexual nose, a blazer wearing, luggage carrying, guy, a sweaty singer in a t-shirt,some very bad Montana Sauvignon Blanc, some very good Prosecco, tarts in tartan and a few body builders.....I joke not ! I reckon it was the best night the residents bar had ever seen, as we "created" a dance floor and boogied on down. This morning, thanks to a man called Michael and the code word "Pigeon" ( another long story) we all had a massive breakfast in Jurys Inn, while perusing the Royal Wedding Supplement and the horoscopes....heaven. The Mad One and I were the last to leave the city, calling into Dobbies Garden Centre at the Lisburn turn off the M1, for some further retail therapy before returning home to our husbands. We both made a point of returning home in slinky new outfits and underwear, so that later this evening we could "acknowledge" the contribution GASP and the Spud Farmer made to our weekend.....this "technique" also secures future girlie nights away !!!!!