My Big Birthday!
Gosh, I’ve been bad at posting regular blogs recently! I have many excuses, including the fact that I had a lot of stuff to do pre my Big Birthday, the huge 70. I am also ever busy on Instagram, Face Book etc. as well as doing a new weekly Vlog on YouTube. So, I hope you’ll let me off and enjoy a very quick romp through my Big Birthday week, first in London, for the actual day, and then home in Brighton for the party to end all parties, just 2 days later! I can honestly say that I haven’t enjoyed a birthday so much since I hit 30, so I hope this inspires you to not dread any big landmark birthdays you may have coming up! (And there’s a little video at the end.)
First stop was London town to stay in the spectacular Corinthia hotel that featured in a TV documentary recently. (Will.i.am practically lives there!) Well, it’s only once a decade………..
The Corinthia surpassed our expectations, especially when I checked in and was upgraded to a massive suite with a river view! Becoming 70 and being an Instagrammer certainly has its benefits!
The River Suite at the Corinthia Hotel. Big enough to hold 14 people for drinks as you’ll see later………
My oldest school friend Dalia joined me for the two night stay and the birthday champagne tea party, but we kicked off the first night in true style dining at Tom Kerridge’s Bar and Grill before going to the theatre. Tom is a very famous chef in the UK well known for his take on English dishes, so I wasn’t that keen as I thought it would be too meaty. However, I was blown away by the taste of our food and it has gone down in memory as one of my top meals. And as for the wine…….superlative! There’s a very reasonable pre-theatre menu if you happen to be in town so I would highly recommend this master chef’s London base.
After dinner, we were off to see Noises Off, at the Garrick Theatre, Dalia’s birthday present to me. (I’m at an age when I prefer “experiences” to presents.) It’s a comedy farce that is so clever and so funny that I literally had tears pouring down my face! A great way to spend my last night in my 60s. And the walk back to the hotel was pretty cool too………
November 20th kicked off with a champagne breakfast in our suite followed by a big wander around Covent Garden and the shops. We didn’t buy a thing, and no we didn’t go by sleigh…………
Then it was time to dress up for the famous Corinthia champagne tea and a chance to catch up with my London friends, some of whom I worked with in TV and haven’t seen for ten years………..
I’ve been to afternoon tea all over London and Brighton but this was, by far, the best ever! The little cakes and desserts were fabulous, the sandwiches were so awesome I asked for more of the truffle flavoured egg mayo ones, (sorry, no good photos of the sandwiches, they’re all in my tummy!) and the flowing champagne and friendly staff were second to none. And the price? It compares favourably with any champagne tea you book at the poshest hotels in London, but is far superior.
We then all went up to the suite for a surprise! The first surprise was the bottle of champagne and chocolate treats that the hotel had sneaked in there, wow, what a kind and lovely surprise. And the other surprise, for my friends, was that I had booked a silent disco! They had no idea why I had asked them to bring comfortable shoes with them but soon found out when Rikesh from GuruDudu turned up in his tiny shorts and took us on a dancing tour of London………
That was The Most Fun Ever and everyone, without exception, really loved the whole experience as did some of the tourists who joined in! We laughed, we danced and we had a ball. And the weather was kind to us.
My actual birthday was one that I will remember for the rest of my life and I am so grateful to all my London friends for joining me to celebrate my special day in such a fabulous way. Many, many thanks to the Corinthia for looking after us so well and being so generous. Dalia and I are now doing the lottery so we too can have a permanent suite with you! And last, but by no means least, thank you to Lois for taking such fabulous photos of the event and giving me the day off! You can find her on Instagram along with her superb captures of London. Click here
Now on with the party………
There aren’t so many photos from my Brighton Bash as it was the evening and I was having too good a time to be snapping away! But you’ll get the general idea. It was perfect. 100% perfect. And may well give you some ideas for your next Big Birthday!
The Big Beach Cafe, owned by Norman Cook aka Fat Boy Slim, is a very special venue and their choice of local sparkling wine (as good as good champagne) and the food - mini-burgers, vegan wraps, mini-fish & chips, etc.- was beyond delicious. I am just sorry I didn’t get any photos but it was way too dark and atmospheric!
First top tip, have balloons everywhere. Nikki, of Balloon Wise , Brighton, knows the venue well and is so experienced we just had a quick meet up a couple of weeks beforehand and she had decorated the entire place by the time I arrived!
Second top tip, have a photo booth. Everyone dressed up for the night (note I’m wearing the same dress but have given it the rock chick look) and had a ball posing and trying out the props! Each couple got a print each to take home, all mine were put into an album AND I got every single shot, plus GIFs, sent to me electronically! Thank you to Sam of Fresh Booths, Brighton, for giving me, and everyone there, permanent memories in such high quality.
Must have music, must dance! My oldest Brighton friend, Simon Williams, laid on Live music with his friend Phil and his son, and although many of my guests aren’t into dance/world music, they were all jigging along while talking and drinking, while us hard core took to the dance floor to rave to Deep Mandala. I could listen and dance to their music for hours so it was perfect for me!
Live music at its best!
And finally, no celebration is complete without fireworks so I bought a huge box, from Dynamic Fireworks, where you just light one end and a whole display goes off for 3 minutes! It was awesome and we were so lucky that the wind had dropped and the rain stayed away. Just a perfect ending to a perfect party. Thank you to Mark for being the only responsible, sober person there to take over the fireworks display!
The finale.
I hope you enjoyed my birthday pics as much as I enjoyed being there, and I hope it’s given you some ideas too. I definitely enjoyed this landmark birthday more than any other and intend to carry on celebrating next year! Anyone joining me?
A last huge thank you to the Corinthia Hotel, London, and the Big Beach Cafe, Brighton, for giving me the best time ever, and all my wonderful friends for being there to share it with me!
And if you want more, here’s a little video I made of the two parties:
See you soon,
