I had so many plans for today. I was going to do a bit of writing, then go for a long run. (I may as well put it in writing and make it real: I’m training for another half marathon. It’s going to be hilly. God help me.) However, I find myself lolling on the sofa with no energy for sewing and only a modicum of energy for knitting. Why? Because my boyfriend organised the best birthday surprise EVAH!!!! this weekend.
Here’s my attempt to make this blog post even vaguely sewing related: a photo of the mending kit in our hotel room:
Okay? Have I satisfied the God of Sewing Blogs?
So, moving on! My birthday is on 14 February, but because Valentine’s Day always makes eating out hellish, Ian suggested organising a meal this weekend. He’d book it – all I had to do was turn up. (This initiative in and of itself left me close to speechless.)
Last night we caught a bus to Victoria and walked into The Goring Hotel – the place Kate Middleton stayed the night before marrying Prince William. I was mega pleased with the choice, and yelped when halfway through the meal Ian announced we also had a room for the night. He’d packed an overnight bag for me! It was already in the hotel room! The staff had left me a card and chocolates! We could carry on drinking cocktails instead of catching the tube home!
This morning, we took a stroll down to Buckingham Palace and St James Park:
If this is getting older … BRING IT ON!
Thank you, Ian!!!!
 
Wow! You are a lucky girl it looks like you’ve been wonderfully spoilt. (#alittlebitenvious)
I know! I feel vaguely guilty!
Aww, that is so sweet of Ian. What fun you must have had. Are you going to do anything on the actual birthday itself?
What an amazing surprise! Happy birthday for Tuesday.
Best. Boyfriend. Ever. Happy almost birthday, Karen!
Happy Birthday! What an awesome way to celebrate–looks like it was a lot of fun.
What a lovely boyf! And what a lucky Valentine lady you are. Happy birthday for Tuesday Karen! x
Ah, what a sweetie. Glad you had a great day. 🙂
What a great boyfriend! Happy birthday!!!
Oh how lovely – Happy Birthday for tuesday
OMG, Ian needs a ‘best birthday gift giver’ award for sure! What a wonderful gesture, you both must have had soooo much fun!
How dare he indirectly ruin your plans for running and writing by organising what seems to me the best way to spend a birthday EVER! You best give that man a talking to! I am super envious of your birthday antics and am now plotting ways to manipulate my fella to do the same… Happy birthday!!!
What a fabulous surprise. I’m very jealous indeed, but will contain the envy and wish you a happy birthday.
Happy Birthday for Tuesday hun!
And, I think it’s safe to say that Ian is def. a keeper 🙂
I don’t know about “older” but it certainly sounds very grown-up! 😉
What a lovely surprise!
Happy Birthday when it comes!
What a wonderful surprise! Well done, Ian, for sure.
Happy almost birthday!
You got yourself a good bloke there, he’s almost as good as Handmade Ryan!
Happy Birthday for Tuesday.
I can confidently say that a surprise of that magnitude will NEVER come my way! You’re a very lucky woman! And what’s this about getting older – you’re only 22 aren’t you?! x
Ha, ha – yes, just with another 20 years on top!
That’s a great birthday surprise! When I turned 40 two years ago, I was up to my neck in work and taking around-the-clock care of my breastfeeding baby, so my man booked a suite in an historic hotel and I stayed the night, ALONE! and GOT A MASSAGE! And got to watch uninterrrupted Mad Men on my laptop until I feel asleep! It sounds strange, but it was heaven. I decided to keep him 😉
Wow, that sounds like the most amazing sanity-saver. What a great fella, and so inspired to give you some time on your own!
I am agog. Happy Birthday, Karen!
What a wonderful surprise and wonderful boyfriend! Lovely photos, too.
Happy Birthday for Tuesday Karen! What a magnificent surprise 🙂 I am very happy for both of you. It sounds like you’ve had a marvellous time!
oh my GOD. major props to ian!!! you are going to have to sew him a tuxedo!!!
happy birthday week karen, i’m sending you a virtual cocktail!
Happy Birthday for Tuesday! This sounds wonderful!
What a fabulous way to spend a birthday – indeed a weekend! Lucky you!
Happy birthday Karen! And what a man!
Yay, happy birthday!! How lovely! Also, erm… what’s going on with that sheepy fellow there?
This post was truly heartwarming! Ian sounds lovely – hope you had a fantastic time.
What a fantastic birthday surprise. Valentine’s Day drives me crazy for dining out too, this is far better. Full credit to Ian for packing a bag and keeping it all hush hush. I’m not sure what my husband would pack for me.
Happy birthday Karen, and well done Ian! 🙂
That is so awesome! And happy birthday! 🙂
Oh, how fun! AND you and I share a birthday, 14 February! So happy birthday to us 🙂
What a lovely birthday surprise! Happy early birthday!
What a sweet birthday present! And happy birthday for tomorrow.
What a fabulous birthday surprise! YAY! Happy Birthday my dear!!!!
Hi I have followed your blog for some time and you have inspired me to dust off the sewing machine and make 2 skirts after a trip to Goldhawk Road from the depths of Cambridgeshire. Just wanted to thank you and wish you a very Happy Birthday for tomorrow – it is my birthday too ( the big 50) and my other half also refuses to take me out as it is too commercialised! We are having a day out and lunch instead
Jenny
That’s wonderful to hear! Happy birthday and happy sewing!!
A huge happy birthday from sunny Melbourne. What a lovely surprise!
awwww looks lovely, hello Ian! Glad you were spoilt rotten, Happy Birthday for Tuesday xx
Ah so lovely! We approve wholeheartedly! Happy birthday for Tuesday missus 🙂
Happy birthday for tomorrow, dear Karen! x
Happy birthday for tomorrow. Looks like you had a lovely and fun time.
Don’t feel guilty, you seem to always be on the go,I get tired just reading about all you do, you deserve an awesome birthday night out! Ian rocks, and you guys sound like such a great couple, I’m from the states otherwise I’d want to organize a double date!
Hope you have a great birthday!
Yay, Ian! Happy Birthday, Karen!
Happy birthday!!!!
Awesome! Yes to any plan which means that one can carry on drinking cocktails all night. Sounds like a gorgeous weekend, have a good day tomorrow!
WOW!!! What a lovely Ian you have! And they say romance is dead… Wishing you a very happy birthday for tomorrow, my dear xxx
All the very best returns for your birthday. WE are already in V Day here and so far so good – I am hosting a Tuesday Night Dinner which is a potluck roving dinner open to everyone, hence always an intersting night out! The theme is Escape from Valentines! But really I’ am ambushing the ynics with a heart shaped mississippi mud pie hehehe. We will toast your birthday. xo
Well, happy birthday! Spoiling is necessary on birthdays.
best wishes for your Valentine birthday, and what a fabulous way to celebrate. Roses? Huh. Very passe!
Wow, bucket loads of brownie points for that boy!
What a lovely birthday treat… you must have felt very spoilt!!!.You look like you had fun. Your pics are always lovely to look at. How do you make them look so good (except for being good at taking photos of course?!
Nothing to do with me! It’s an iPhone app called Instagram.
Oh boy, you got a good guy. Keep him around 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday. Thanks for sharing your photos. That sheep thing looks cozy, whatever it was 🙂
What a wonderful, thoughtful present. I bet you enjoyed every minute!
Although I’m late, I’m so happy that you had a wonderful birthday and a great dinner! Happy Belated Birthday!
Awww! What a sweetie! happy birthday lovely lady. That looks like a damn fine cocktail too, glad you had the opportunity to savour it rather than having to knock it back to head for the tube! xxx