Rushing on to say "Happy birthday!" to Rose. And Rose, you are wayyyy more glam and beauteous at a few years past my age than I ever have been or indeed ever will be.
Also many thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes for ds. His b-day was actually on Tues, so I wasn't here in the morning and he said previously that he wouldn't open his presents unless I was here. And he remained true to his word, so he opened his prezzies at suppertime, when I was back from my course. I was rather touched by this. His party has been deferred until half-term, as I simply don't have the time to sort it out now. But he did have cake and special supper of his choice on Tues (in case anyone thinks I'm a really uncaring old bag).
Hope your mum continues to make good progress, MI.
NU, so sorry to hear about your cat. :( I don't buy the "they're only animals" line for critters such as dogs and cats who have been part of the family for a long time and feel that not to mourn their passing would be somewhat strange.
I have so much work to do this w/e and have had to invite dm for lunch on Sat, as she is miffed that I have other plans for the actual day of my b-day. I do realise at 84, she could pop her clogs at any time and any given day could be the last that we have together blah blah blah, but sometimes I think it should be ok to have other plans that involve friends rather than my pain-in-the-arse, mired-in-tradition family. I honestly do not want to spend my 50th birthday, which actually falls on a Saturday, with my foul nephews. I always, and I do mean ALWAYS, end up falling in with my mother and her family's plans for Christmas and birthdays and I am feeling that I would like to start now sometimes doing my own thing while I am still just about young enough to enjoy it.
Dh doesn't do organising stuff for my birthday and I am fine with that, because I know it's nothing to do with how much he values me. He just wasn't schooled in that type of stuff because of the poverty in which he grew up and doesn't expect anyone to notice his birthday much either. I'm pretty good at ensuring I treat myself, anyway. :) This year I am having to resist the temptation to 'treat' myself to extensive plastic surgery to stop my face and body from looking like they are melting. Actually, I think I'm just going to take all the mirrors in our house and put them in dd's room. This will be a far cheaper and (for me, at least) healthier solution.