We spent a few precious hours together today, a pocket of sister time where we talked about birth plans, ate pastrami sandwiches, bought a canvas bag (for nappies!) and generally waddled around Bath enjoying the sunshine. When Abby picked me up this morning we discovered we were wearing matching outfits – the only differences were that i had my jeans tucked into my Uggs, and my sister had a gigantic basketball hidden under her blouse… not long to go now!

The Kiwis treated me to a champagne lunch for my birthday yesterday, so it was doubly special to then come home and find all your birthday comments – thank you so much!

Can anyone tell me where the last 10 years went?

Last year i woke up to snow on my birthday; today we have blue skies and sunshine, which in itself would have been enough to lift my spirits, but then i logged into my email and found this:

Those beautiful women are from my Summer 2009 Unravelling class – can you believe they did this?! I still can’t and have the dried tears on my cheeks to prove it! Thank you ladies, you have touched my heart forever!

So, 37-years-young. I just looked back at last year’s birthday to-do list and enjoyed crossing off the items I’ve achieved, and shook my head at how many were left yet to be done. This year’s list was scrawled in my diary last night, and reading it back it see that it’s a rather do-able practical list… but that’s okay. I like the idea of this next year being do-able – bring it on!

37 things to do before I turn 38:

1. Move back to London
2. Visit San Francisco again New York!
3. Get my driver’s license
4. Buy some running shoes
5. Start using the running shoes does walking count? ;-)
6. Try internet dating
7. Finish the book & give it to my editor – nearly!
8. Get a new tattoo
9. Get my teeth cleaned
10. Buy more flowers
11. Do something with the big canvas
12. Stay optimistic
13. Investigate reiki
14. Try acupuncture
15. Find help for PMS nightmare (see 14)
16. Visit Morocco
17. Have regular Sunday brunches with the Kiwis
18. Visit Christine in Brighton
19. Teach at Squam
20. Test drive the new Polaroid camera
21. Help birth my nephew into the world
22. Take Polaroids of nephew & get broody
23. Get rid of TV once and for all
24. Watch last season of Lost
25. FALL IN LOVE
26. Paint toenails emo-black
27. Sit under tree and read once a week
28. Take a day off once in a while
29. Find p/t admin help
30. Make spiced cider
31. Shoot with the Hassy more
32. Wean myself off coffee… eventually switched to decaf
33. Eat more fruit
34. Start swimming again
35. Wear more skirts
36. Continue being an ex-smoker
37. Love Polaroids with all my heart