Hello!! Welcome to March and my Birthday Blog. I know some people have a Birthday but I'm making March my Birthday MONTH, starting with my blog.

This month, I spoke to some of my amazing Patreons who told me about their birthday rituals, their favourite birthdays and MORE! I've always been excited by Birthdays but I do find, like many of you I'm sure, that the older you get, the less important you think they feel. Work gets in the way, it's too much effort to organise plans PLUS as the numbers get higher, we look to avoid that part!!

First this month I spoke to Roslyn who's birthday is in February so she remembers her mother always saying at Christmas time that she was cutting back on Birthday presents so by February, Roslyn's gift would be quite small. She didn't mind that, until later on in the year when her mother had forgotten the new rule and her siblings would get big presents!! Don't worry though, it did all get resolved and Roslyn got her big presents moving forward after she pointed this out to her mother!

Next up we have Gill who remembers always having Birthday parties as a child... 20/30 kids in the Church hall. Her favourite birthdays as an adult have included a hot air balloon ride over the Exeter coast and riding in a 4 seater aeroplane where she got to take control of the plane which sounds so exciting!

Linda has an amazing tradition of turning a BirthDAY into a BirthWEEK (Birthday Week). As you can already see, I have stolen this idea and really ran with it to create the BirthMONTH hahaha. During her Birthday Week, Linda will try to do one small thing for herself to make herself feel good. I really love this idea- I think we should all do this.

Elizabeth's biggest birthday present was a red convertable chevrolet car!! That is a BIG one! Travel is how Elizabeth has enjoyed her birthdays, from a surprise 50th in Chicago to her 60th in Lisbon! Elizabeth has also been in an helicopter ride over Bora Bora! WOW!

Jackie is another one for travel on her birthday. As her birthday is in January she normally goes away in January for her birthday as a post- Christmas break. New York is a go to favourite, seeing shows and shopping, staying in the Waldorf every time. For her 40th she spent it in Dubai with all the family for a real celebration!

Sylvia gets a call from all her children on her birthday and normally receives flowers. As long as they are carnations, she's happy!!!

Susan watched Les Miserables every year on her birthday for 17 years and only stopped since covid years.

Gwen and her husband have birthdays just 2 days apart, in the same year! So they got to spend all the BIG birthdays together and she wouldn't have had it any other way! Her husband loved a cruise and Gwen loves a meaningful present.

Jayne enjoys joint birthdays with her daughter Melissa. For her 60th she took both her daughters to Copenhagen.

Annalotta for her 9th birthday got a dachshund puppy after being scared of dogs but that cured her !!

I remember for my 21st birthday I had 21 people for a party and we did an assault course and then went to Pizza Express.

My 30th I had 30 people for Bowling and Ice Skating! Apparently I like to have the same number of guests as my age on the big birthdays - can't wait for my 90th - what a party!! I do think as we get older we like to do more events and spending time with people rather than gifts, I think that seems to be the consensus.

This year I'm looking to do a fancy train ride with a meal and a proper table cloth - any recommendations let me know!!

Have a great month everyone!

Love Michael :D