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Thanks to everyone for the birthday messages on Wednesday. It was a milestone birthday for me this year that we were supposed to celebrate in the New Forest, where Richard and I got engaged. While the coronavirus foiled our plans, April 8 was still a really nice day, thanks to the thoughtfulness of Richard and Emma (and also to the weather, which was absolutely beautiful).

When I woke up, I was handed me a "birthday menu" for the day:


The "visit to Amsterdam" was a virtual tour of some of the Rijksmuseum's finest artworks, called "Masterpieces Up Close". The "North African feast" was take-out from a Moroccan restaurant Richard and I have been planning to go to. "Pudding" was my requested birthday cake -- Nigella Lawson's sticky toffee pudding recipe (which I highly recommend). My presents included a sweet little book made by Emma...



...as well as a couple of books and my favorite Islay Scotch (if you're interested, it's the 16-year-old Lagavulin). Richard also gave me some coupons to be used at a later date:


I'm so fortunate to have such a caring partner who made my day so special. Thank you, Richard.

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