But life still goes on: Sam turns 2

Goodness, my gorgeous Planetarians, all 364 of you, life is such a tumult of emotions on Planet Baby right now. I feel like I am living in a surreal little bubble. Whilst my thoughts are never far from my sweet Dad, lying there in hospital, the ordinary affairs of state on Planet Baby just have to keep on going. As if I’m living some completely separate life, filled with excitement, plans and dreams whilst other wishes are being dashed, cruelly, at the exact same time. The biggest example of this is the fact that Sammy turned 2 on Saturday. Time for a party to rouse our spirits! But Dad was too frail to attend. 

Here’s my gorgeous, rambunctious, fun-loving little bundle of kinetic energy, beaming on his big day. It was a small affair for our immediate family, some dear friends and their youngsters.

This is the only shot I have of him standing still!

Here are some of the goodies we had on offer. Some sparkling goodness to start the fun for the adults…

Some delectable Jean-Pascal macarons – raspberry, vanilla, lemon and hazelnut. Mmm!

Some lemon tarts and raspberry friands.

Chicken sandwiches to die for (let me know if you’d like the recipe).

There was much admiring of our new water view from the deck.

All whilst the pixies and their friends darted here and there, playing chasings and searching for hidden gold coins on their treasure hunt through the garden. No structured party games this time – just good old-fashioned tag and hide-and-seek.

And then came Sam’s big moment – the arrival of his Spot cake, all designed on the run that morning by looking at one of his treasured Spot books. Hmm, as Mr PB was gallivanting all over town with the pixies in tow to watch two soccer matches for Joshie’s old school team as well as Joshie’s first game for his new school, I was cursing the fact that he had changed our initial plans for a butter cake to chocolate cake. Removing the ever-multiplying brown crumbs from the increasingly thick layer of yellow butter icing was not the *best way* to spend my morning! Anyway, here he is.

Sam loved him and that’s all that mattered to me. Here’s my baby, cuddling Spotty for his big moment.

The cake was wolfed down by the partygoers, yellow icing and all. Not quite the spectacle as  his 1^st birthday rocket cake which was fuelled by sparklers. But still enjoyed just as much.

It was a moving afternoon, marked by Dad’s conspicuous absence but also buoyed by the presence of Mum’s sisters and niece as well as Mr PB’s parents, all of whom combined to ensure it was a festive occasion and not a maudlin affair, as it well could have been. Mr PB and I just loved introducing some of our friends to our new home for the first time. Happy days indeed!

Once the guests had departed, the presents had been unwrapped and the weary pixies had been despatched to bed, I headed off to the hospital to give Dad some birthday cake. But he wasn’t hungry. Sleep was more appealing. That’s the way it is, nowadays. But not before he quizzed me about the birthday boy – I count my blessings every time we have such a lucid conversation.

Yep, life goes on, my friends. In my surreal, parallel universes. Can any of you relate to this feeling? It’s such a strange disconnect. A little unnerving, even. But onwards we plough with carpe diem our motto. Oh, and the words are starting to flow. Thank you for all your unstinting and kind support as I corral my teeming thoughts into order to craft my best tribute to my darling Dad. Your wisdom and empathy is helping me more than you will ever know. I am blessed.