A Birthday in Isolation

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday; again.  I've now had more 32nd birthdays than the original one 😉.  Being the age I am, every birthday is cause for celebration and most years I've spent a week somewhere overseas to celebrate, either on my own or with one or more friends; Olu Deniz, Santorini, Antalya, Marbella, Mykonos and more recently in Italy.  Six years ago, I went to Santorini for a week with 7 friends for a milestone birthday. But I've also celebrated in the UK, in the English Lake District and last year, in a Bradford casino on my actual birthday and then with most of my wider family in Ashton-under-Lyne on the following weekend; exotic or what?

When coronavirus first struck and I decided to stay in Kusadasi, I never imagined that I would still be here for my birthday.  I thought I'd be back in the UK by the end of April and able to plan a shared celebration with friends and family but it wasn't to be.  Whilst being in a most beautiful part of the world, because of the over 65s 100% curfew, I couldn't even go 'out, out' to celebrate yesterday so had to improvise.  Having said that I had a lovely, if rather emotional day.

I arranged for my favourite Menemen, to be supplied for my breakfast and then spent the day  catching up with my eCards, voice and video calls from family and friends. It was lovely to hear from everyone but the highlights were a very unexpected video call from my 91 year old dad, helped by his care home manager, another unexpected video call from my dear friend who has been very ill with Covid-19 for nearly a month and hasn't had the energy for calls, and the last call of the day from my fabulous son.



And my friends here decided they wouldn't let the day pass unmarked and presented me with the most sumptuous chocolate cake, complete with candles.  The cake was so light, oozing with chocolate mousse and cream and topped with just about every fruit imaginable.  Someone also arranged for me to have dinner of my favourite kuzu pirzola (lamb chops) with pea mash and potato croquettes.


All in all, another lovely birthday.

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