Yesterday was my birthday. I've written before about how I don't really like my own birthday, and as predicted  I woke up in a fairly grumpy mood, very nearly cancelling all my plans for the day. Thankfully I talked myself out of doing that though because I had a really lovely day.

Ernest and I caught the train into Manchester to meet Woody for lunch. We had lunch at Teapot on Thomas St. Which I can highly recommend. The staff were friendly and efficient, service was fast, and the food was yummy.
We had the choice of the breakfast and the lunch menu, I think because we arrived at noon. Ernest had scrambled eggs on sourdough toast, while Woody and I shared two warm ciabatta sandwiches, sheeps cheese and chutney, and falafal.
The tea came in two little pots, along with a timer. The waitress explained that when the sand had run out in the middle timer, we could pour the tea through a strainer from one pot to the other and then it would be ready to drink.
I quite liked that little touch, but Woody thought it was a bit silly.



When the children came home from school, Eden helped me lay the table for my birthday tea.
Woody baked this beautiful cake for me. I had given him rather precise instructions, and he did pick out the white stars from a tub of multicoloured stars because I didn't like the colours of any of the other stars. He is far too good to me.






The cake was delicious!



And we had tea in my new teapot, a present to myself bought in Buxton earlier this week.



Now to start planning for India's birthday tea next Tuesday. April is a busy month here for birthdays.