A Great Gatsby Garden Party - Birthday Edition!

It was my birthday last week, and as a treat, loverboy took me out to see the decadent and debaucherous show Cantina, which is currently playing at the London Wondergound on Southbank.  Photography is not permitted, so I don't have any pictures to share, but if you are a fan of vaudeville and acrobatics, then I would definitely recommend going to see this circus-style show!

As my birthday was mid-week, I decided to celebrate with friends on the weekend instead.  I stuck with the era of vaudeville following our trip to see Cantina, and threw a Great Gatsby birthday picnic on Sunday.

Based on the short novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which was written in 1925 and set in the jazz age, I envisaged a garden full of deco dames and dandies:

"The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter..."

Luckily the weather turned out brilliantly, and my guests turned up in their Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan finest!

I prepared a picnic feast, and baked my speciality - red velvet cake.  This was soon relegated to 'extra cake' though, when my superstar friend, Jim, came over with a gorgeous gâteau that he made for me...

Clearly, this spectacular work of art was the birthday cake to end all birthday cakes, and I can tell you that although it was huge, it was all gone within ten minutes of me blowing out the candles!  Yummers!

After a few more glasses of bubbly and some dancing 'round the garden, we all worked up an appetite part deux and snaffled up the red velvet cake...

The picnic continued well into the evening, and so did the eating, drinking, dancing and being merry!  We did take it indoors though, to watch the Olympics closing ceremony, and had a Monty Python sing-a-long to 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life'...

 

I had the most perfect day and must say a bit thank you to all my wonderful friends and family who helped me celebrate...you're the best! 

A-Hoy there in the Velodrome!

I have well and truly been indulging my Olympics obsession by watching the Games on tv and online, morning, noon and night.  There are also many big screens set up around the city, including one near my work, by Tower Bridge.

After hours spent refreshing the London 2012 ticketing website, I struck lucky and managed to score a solitary ticket to go and see the cycling at the velodrome in Olympic Park.

So off I went to Stratford on Tuesday, sandwiches packed and a Union Jack flag in hand - a great start to my birthday week!  Despite all the warnings of overcrowding on the tube and airport style security at the gates, my journey was smooth and I was in the Olympic Park with plenty of time to spare before Team GB hit the track.

Having been glued to the Games since the opening ceremony, I have to say, it was awesome to finally see the Olympic Park in person.  It is so cool.  It's also massive.  The walk from the gates to the velodrome probably took around 20-25 minutes.  There is just so much to see and take in - the architecture is very impressive, the park areas are pretty and flowery, and even the floor is colourful...

The volunteers are really cheerful and fun, and get you into the spirit of things as soon as you step out of the station.  Dubbed the 'Games Makers', they are friendly and helpful and indeed a real asset to the London 2012 Games.

Having seen members of Team USA, Team Russia and Team Czech wondering around London last week, I had been hoping to see one of the athletes from Team GB, and finally on Tuesday I got to see Sir Chris Hoy and Laura Trott at the velodrome.  The atmosphere was electric, the crowd were very excited and there was a sea of Union Jacks.

Team GB emerged victorious, and Chris Hoy is now Great Britain's most successful Olympian in history!

I spent the whole day at Olympic park, and really enjoyed sitting outdoors watching the park live screen.  It was great being part of an enthusiastic crowd that cheered and waved their flags, and stood to sing the national anthem when we won.  A fantastic experience and one I will never forget! 

The 2012 Games have been so exciting, Team GB have done fabulously, and I can't wait to go back and watch the athletics at the Paralympics later this month.