September celebrations

It's my birthday - whoo hoo I made it 🤗 although there will not be much celebrating as l'll be spending most of the day here at the hospital having my sixth chemotherapy treatment. 

September is always a special month for me and I like to make the most of my birthdays, sharing the chance to have good times with others. I have been looking back at some of my great September celebrations over recent years, lots of links and lots of photos. 

I cannot believe it was ten years ago that I celebrated turning 45 with my first ever brand new car - I loved my C1 Splash with all its pink accessories. For no real reason we had a party; looking back I realise it was the last party with my Dad, a night to cherish. It was a great chance to catch up with friends and family and I love the little cake my friend made me - New Car and a Party

Back in 2012 Hubby and I were in London on my birthday watching the Olympic Parade and sharing the celebrations with our daughter who had been a Gamesmaker for the Paralympics at the Aquatic Centre - Birthday and Olympics  It was a superb day, such a great atmosphere and lovely to see all the competitors.

My 50th birthday was a really super celebration starting with a delicious meal at home with friends followed the next evening with a large party when I surprised everyone by announcing Hubby and I would be doing the London Marathon in stages - Clare's Challenge 50. 

I've always wanted to do the Marathon but I knew with having MS it is something I could not do .... so we did it in 8 stages, starting each one from where we finished before. 

As part of my 50th celebrations Hubby surprised me with a trip to Prague, what a beautiful city. Our hotel was superb, having views over the city and serving sparkling wine with breakfast, my kind of start to any day. It's a place we'd love to visit again - Surprise trip to Prague

2016 was an amazing year with our eight visits to London to complete the Marathon route and in the process raising a superb amount for my four chosen charities. Thank you to everyone who supported us. 

The final route was on my 51st birthday, a family trip to London where we met up with friends and completed the last stage - Tower Bridge to The Mall.  

After enjoying a meal with everyone Hubby and I went to Proms in the Park, a super way to celebrate not just my birthday but completing Clare's Challenge 50. I always like my birthdays to last, 50 to 51 was a whole year of celebrations 😁

We were just home for my birthday in 2017, it had been a difficult year as in April I broke my left ankle and right foot. It was a challenging time, sleeping downstairs and being in a wheelchair, but we still managed a super holiday in the South of France where my amazing Hubby pushed me around everywhere ... French pavements are not always smooth. 

We met up with my school pen friend, playing petanque on crutches was such fun, and we spent a super few days with friends we had met the previous year. The celebrations started in France and continued once we were home with my friend turning 50 - party time! 

Two years ago was a very special September, we had a family holiday. The first time the four of us had been away together for many years due to all our works and studies commitments. We decided to do something new, a villa holiday in Portugal. The villa was amazing, so lovely to have our own pool and we certainly made use of the bbq. We were not far from Cliff Richard's vineyard, a great place and to ensure we celebrated my birthday once home we brought back a bottle of his aptly named sparkling wine - Portuguese Food and Wine

And so to turning 54, nothing special in the number but as my ankle was finally mended it was time to 'Move On'. We had a great garden party with all our friends, our daughter and partner came home for the weekend and our son managed to get a night off from the bar! 

My birthday was actually a Tuesday and Monday saw Hubby and I making our way to Portsmouth to catch Brittany Ferries Normandie overnight crossing to begin a few weeks in France. This is my favourite cross channel ferry having first sailed on her in 1992 when we had a holiday in France with my Dad and son who was just seven months old. To my amazement and utter delight we were upgraded to a Commodore Suite with a double bed, no bunks and I awoke on my birthday to room service breakfast before we disembarked and set off for our destination ..... Sancerre!

What a day, my favourite ferry, travelling through my favourite country and staying in a village whose wine I just love - Our Petite Tour de France.

So today I turn 55 and I'm not quite where I thought I'd but as it's my birthday, and that means celebrating, I've bought a few goodies in with me to share with the amazing doctors and nurses.

No bubbly or favourite wine tonight but I will be with my Hubby and our son, and will be video chatting with our daughter - they are the best things in my life!

It has been lovely to look back over my previous birthdays - I am such a lucky lady to have had such amazing times with amazing people. Life is good, parties and holidays will happen again ...

... in the meantime enjoy a glass of something special for me - à votre santé!