What a CRAZY start to my birthday… 

It all began in Johannesburg. I had flown up with my colleagues from Smile 90.4 FM for a work event on Friday the 3rd Feb. After the event at Emperors Palace that evening, I decided not to join them for a drink (another glass of sparkling water wasn’t going to be fun and the tiredness had kicked in) and went back to my hotel room.

Usually at the end of a long day, my tummy is itchy and I can’t wait to tear all my clothes off and lie there (semi-naked) whilst rubbing my favorite Mama Mio Tummy Oil all over. Sorry for the visuals, but it’s bliss. I usually don’t do pajamas after that (also because I don’t have any that truly fit anymore) and just go to sleep. That evening though, I decided to put pajamas on. I have a cute pair from Cotton On – they’re grey sleep shorts with ice cream cones on them and the matching grey ice cream t-shirt. Now, let me paint the picture. As my tummy and hips have expanded, the shorts barely cover my bum and the t-shirt rises and my bump sticks out. It’s perfect to sleep in, but I wouldn’t want anyone to see me like that. Only poor Sox who is subjected to it 🙂

At 02:30 I was in my deepest sleep when I was woken up to banging on my hotel room door and my name being shouted out. I woke up in a panic. My heart was thudding and in my throat and I didn’t know what was going on. I stumbled out of bed and found Maurice and Kerry, dressed and telling me to grab my valuables. We needed to evacuate the building. I thought they were pranking me and it took me a while – still trying to come out of the deep sleep that I’d been jolted from.

“Wait… I’m in my PJs…”

“Just put your shoes on, grab your valuables and lets go!”

It was then that I could hear the alarm – a woman’s voice saying: “This is NOT a drill. Please evacuate the building immediately.”

I put my shoes on, grabbed my denim jacket to throw on, my handbag, iPad and phone, keycard and left everything else in the room. The lifts weren’t working and as we were on the top 5th floor, we had to climb down the stairs – double stairs, so it felt like 10 flights.

Adrenaline pumping, my tummy aching a little and painfully aware that I’m in my PJs that don’t fit me. We got down to reception. Some were fully clothed, some were in their pjs, some had brought their entire suitcases down with them. We couldn’t find any staff members but I just kept pulling at my sleep shorts to cover my bum and pulling at my t-shirt to cover my tummy. Eventually someone came and said it was just a false alarm. It would take a while for the lifts to start working, so up we climbed the stairs again. Only to hear the alarm sound again! So now… do we climb back down again or ignore it, only to have it not be a false alarm? I tried to call reception, but all the phones were dead.

Eventually someone from the hotel came to tell us it was a false alarm and to please go back to bed.

Looking on the bright side, all my colleagues, Lois, Maurice, Kerry and Marcela sang me “Happy Birthday” at 03:30 so that was awesome. It definitely goes down in the books as the most crazy way to start my birthday so far.

Well, I was so full of adrenaline I couldn’t get back to sleep. I was awake when my alarm clock went off, so I showered, got dressed and waited for my Mom and Dad to arrive. They were coming to have breakfast with me for my birthday and they were bringing the pram and car seat we had ordered from London.My sister and brother in law brought it for us but couldn’t bring it all down to CT. My sister had brought 2 pieces for us and I asked my colleagues, who were very kind to help me bring the 4 pieces down.

It was so good to see my Mom and Dad on my birthday – it was also the first time they were seeing my bump!

Dad and I compared “bumps.”

When I looked at my watch, we were meant to be at the airport and we hadn’t even checked out yet. We also hadn’t wrapped the pram yet to check in as luggage. Yikes!

We got to the airport JUST in time and ran past everyone, saying: “Sorry!!” as we got the heat of stares, pushing past.

Our seats were in the 31st row. Ordinarily, you can enter the plane from the front and the back, but since we were late we had to enter from the front and walk past 31 rows of scowls. I’m so sorry… I am usually the one scowling at those late people.

After a turbulent flight – I was so happy to get back to Cape Town and Sox was waiting for me with a bunch of flowers. I also felt so bad for all the stress and adrenaline poor Baby G was being subjected to. I just kept trying to think: It’s my first pregnant birthday, so let me focus on the excitement and happiness.

Alls well that ends well and from one bad hotel experience to the most amazing experience at another hotel… I had organized a high tea with some of my girlfriends at The Radisson Blu Le Vendome Hotel in Sea Point. Since the weather was so beautiful, they had set a table up on the pool deck.

I arranged bottles of water and champagne for the table and they had an impressive selection of 14 teas. I was in my element sipping on Vanilla Tea all afternoon!

Lois, the chef placed these delicious platters down for us:

CUCUMBER AND ROCKET SANDWICHES

HICKORY HAM AND MUSTARD SANDWICHES

CHICKEN & AVO WRAPS

INDIVIDUAL SCONES WITH FIG PRESERVES AND CLOTTED CREAM

VANILLA CHEESE CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY GEL

MACAROONS

SMALL VANILLA CUPCAKES

Not Banting, but do calories count on Birthdays?

Part of my gift from Jess was a jar of Pickles – the best! I’ve had the cliché craving for them.

I was so thrilled that some of my friends could make it, considering the short notice and one of them was Jen, who popped in with a bunch of roses on her way to the airport. She was flying to London, but wanted to pop in quickly and it meant the world!

Thank you girls for making my afternoon so special. I actually needed a chilled afternoon tea after the adrenaline, dramatic start.

That evening, Sox and I joined 4 of our friends for dinner, which was delicious. By 11pm, I was utterly exhausted. Oh how birthday’s have changed… but next birthday, I’ll have a 7 month old – now there’s a thought! Wow!

Thanks to everyone who made my day so special – for all the calls, voice notes, messages and thoughts. I appreciate it so much!

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