Wednesday 9 November 2011

Happy (b)day

It feels like moonlights ago now that we had a real Indian summer. Not so much of a summer, more of a few days of completely bonkers weather. This pretty much coincided with my birthday about a month ago and I can tell you, I have never worn flip flops in and around my birthday. Totally unheard of. Mental.
This unseasonal weather made for some very enjoyable time in the garden, and even more enjoyable birthday celebrations. Mostly spent indoors but still, the nice weather was appreciated when walking outdoors was involved. It seems so strange thinking about it all now, as I'm feeling so cold all of the time and thinking there's either 1/ something wrong with me - is everyone else this cold all of the time?! or 2/ I should really think about getting my winter clothes out, jumpers, gloves, the whole thing - although what am I going to wear when it gets really cold? I have to pace it out... Anyway, back to the happy days in the sunshine hey? A little bit of walking was necessary to go to this wonderful place, a true alibaba's cave...


I may or may not have drooled all over the place and fingered every bit of yarn I could (before any yarn prudes have a heart attack, this was a joke, calm down, I feasted with my eyes)... And I may or may not have totally splashed out... for a good cause though, I hear my nan might be in need of a new shawl...


A quick pit stop was needed and cake was a definite requirement. A bit of culture with that too, one of my favourite (free!) museums in London...


Followed by some more culture. An absolute treat to be able to walk into a bookshop and just pick books off the shelf and decide I quite fancy the sound of this one and that one, even though I've never heard of them before.



And this stop provided some amusement to Mr Petit Filoux when he realised what the name of the shop was. Because I have a very odd way of pronouncing it. Totally wrong I'm fully aware, but more exotic sounding than the correct way. Something along the lines of PerSEphone (accent on that second syllabe), to rhyme with Stephany. Don't ask.


The birthday day finished in true style with a tasting menu at a Michelin starred Indian restaurant. Indian food is one of my favourite foods out there, and life wouldn't be worth living without curry. The food was to die for, and my tastebuds went to heaven and back. No photos of that I'm afraid because I was too excited (and shy) to get the camera out. One photo was attempted. The result? A blurred photo of myself because I practically jumped out of my skin when I realised the flash was on ;-) So all in all, it was a lovely day. I always feel uneasy whenever my birthday comes up, and tend to focus a little too much on the loved ones that are no longer with us and cannot share the day with me. Mr PF tried really hard though and I'm so grateful for all the wonderful things we did, I had a fantastic time and a head full of beautiful memories!

14 comments:

Jennifer said...

Well happy birthday. What a lovely day you had - just the kind I like when my birthday comes around.

mooncalf said...

But that *IS* how you pronounce Persephone...

How is he pronouncing it? Percy-phone (to rhyme with telephone)?

Petit Filoux said...

No way?! Yes he does say it so it rhymes with "telephone"... Mmmm I might have to ring them just to see what they say when they pick up the phone!

mooncalf said...

Never has the WHOLE internet been more in agreement on one question than on the question of how Persephone is pronounced and how *right we are*.

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=persephone

http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/audio.pl?persep01.wav=Persephone

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/persephone

Petit Filoux said...

Oh my, I might start hyperventilating. Absolute classic. When the foreigner gets one over the native... Love it!

Ali said...

I'm glad we've got that straightened out! I was beginning to feel slightly deranged figuring out how you were saying Persephone. Keep on, you're correct!!

Lovely birthday day.

Anonymous said...

Ha, you win! Perhaps he didn't have a classical education?

The Curious Cat said...

Happy Birthday! The Indian food sounds good - would have loved to have seen the photos if there had been some - a website you could direct us to maybe?

And I thought it was Persephone like you say it...How is it pronounced then? I always thought it was how you say. I've studied Classics and I always thought it was that...I've not heard differently...? It certainly isn't Perse-phone....hmmm...xxx

The Curious Cat said...

ahah! Just saw the comments! Was right!!! xxx

Heather said...

It does rhyme with Stephanie!

The Girl said...

Yeah that's why I was commenting - to say that I was confused because that IS how you say Persephone!! In your face Mr Petit Filoux.

Awesome birthday treat though to get to go in there, I'm hugely jealous. Think I have at least one of the same books as you but I don't have my glasses on me and I can't see the titles very well - pretty sure I have the one at the top too.

Also this Loop place sounds rather exciting - will add to my list of places to go next time I'm in London Town!

Petit Filoux said...

Curious Cat, the restaurant was Benares in Mayfair... very posh area and the waiters were a little too involved to my liking (I can pour my own water thanks) but the food was to die for! I would wholeheartedly recommend!

Rachel said...

Oh, how funny! Was just going to say that your pronunciation is correct, it's a Greek word, is it not? Poor Mr P-F, I bet he feels a right twit now!
R x

Katy said...

I love Persephone books - managed to get a few of them now. But I can't identify either of my 2 absolute favourites on your shelves, so here comes a recommendation of the 2 I love best - Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, and Miss Buncle's Book. They're both perfect wet Sunday afternoon reads. I can't not feel happy reading them. Just got the sequel to Miss Buncle for my own recent birthday - my mother gloroiusly got me a voucher to pick 3 books of my choice! If anyone needs inspiration for your Christmas present this year, there's always that option. Oh and happy birthday!