Happy Birthday in London....

Turning another year older is inevitable.  It's going to happen to all of us each year whether we want it to or not.  I personally love birthdays and welcome each one with open arms...It may be also that I was trained early by a very wise woman (my mom) that birthdays are not just the one day....they can last at least a week if not a month!  The one I am having this year is so amazing I am going to drag it out as long as I possibly can.  I think I can make it last the whole month at the rate I am going.
Two days before my birthday Helly and I had planned to take a day trip just outside the city to visit Highclere castle.  Now for all you Downton

Picnic at Highclere castle

 Abby fans you will be insanely jealous of me right now...yep that's right this is the castle where all the filming is done.  I will talk more about that bit later but now it's back to how we got there.  We decided to hire a car for the day and Helly was super excited to drive.  On our way out the door to get the car Helly surprised me by saying this is your birthday present day so it's on me.  Sweetest surprise ever.  The drive was great...relatively uneventful with only minor direction issues.  We didn't mind the detours though because the countryside was so beautiful.  Once we arrived we parked, collected our cooler full of picnic goodies

You might recognize this view from somewhere...

and headed in.  I had tried to book us tickets to go inside the castle but because of the popularity of the castle now it was completely booked.  Our plan was just to walk the gardens and enjoy the view however when we went to get our garden tickets we just asked if they happened to have any extra castle tickets for the day and they did!  Happy birthday to me!!!  So excited to get to see the inside and outside of this beautiful place.  Walking in we were struck by the grandeur of the place.  It really is huge, beautiful and quite elegant.  We found a spot with a view and had a nice little picnic before we took our tour of the castle.  We

Just standing in  field at a castle....normal right?

 weren't allowed to take photos inside the castle. If I had you would have seen something quite unique.  The castle is still a family home which was really cool.  It is only open to the public 2 months out of the year for viewing.  As we walked through we saw beautiful old furniture, gorgeous old family paintings and then mixed in among was current family portraits.  The bedrooms had grand beds and antique side tables then on the side tables there would be a Harry Potter book.  It was such a cool mix of old and new.  I loved to see that this grand old home was still alive and well and being loved and

Just another day at a castle....loving it!

used as it should be.  We also found out while speaking with the lovely little guides in each room that when the filming takes place there they use most of the actual furniture and accessories of the household.  We saw all the rooms that are used and also heard some fun stories about all of it.  I also learned that the show is actually based loosely on the real 5th countess of the house.  I have started reading the book about her life and it is quite interesting.  She actually did turn the castle into a hospital during the war just like they do in the show. The book is written by the current countess of the house who wrote it to dig into the history of the castle.  There is something to be said for the way the english look at tradition and maintaining family heritage.  Just the way this castle is still a home and it's maintaining the family line and passing on the stories from the ones who were there before.  I just love it!  After the castle tour we just wandered around the gardens and fields and took in the views.  It was such a lovely day and I couldn't have ask for a better way to kick off my birthday week.  Day 2 of birthday week was just as good...except the weather has turned a bit.  I spent the day wandering around the Westminster area

Apple Market Covent Garden

 taking in a bit of art and culture at the Banqueting hall and the National Portrait gallery.  By the way....National Portrait gallery is (in my humble opinion) much more beautiful then the National Gallery.  There is something so beautiful and intimate about viewing portraits.  I felt like I was learning about a person and an artist every time I looked at a portrait.  Just felt more personal and special.  After the gallery I met up with Helly and we headed to the Northcote pub to meet up with a few others and have drinks to celebrate my birthday.  It was such a great night.  John, Polly, Will and Helly were there to help me ring in another year in my life.  Will also gave me maybe the best present ever.  He has set up a hunt around London for me that involves challenges and a skipping rope.  It's gonna be amazing!  The envelope with the details are sealed and I can't open it till I am at my first location.  Helly will be coming with me on this adventure and it will be occurring the last day of the month.  That's how my birthday will last the whole month!  I promise there will be a whole blog about it.  The night was lovely and in the morning began day 3 (my actual birthday) of birthday week.  This day was setting up to be maybe the best day

At the Noel Coward theater...The Cripple of Inishmaan

ever involving all my favorite things.  For starters I opened my door to a sweet card laying in front of my room from Sel, Andy and Lola (the cat) wishing me a Happy birthday!   Helly and I headed out in the morning to have a little wander around the covent garden area which was nice.  We enjoyed some lunch and a stroll through a market where we found some fun unique art.  The main event of the day was the theater.  I am a sucker for anything live and I had found some cheap tickets to the play with Daniel Radcliffe (yep...Harry Potter) in it.  It's called The Cripple of Inishmaan and if anyone is in London and has the time go see it!  It was really good.  The irish accent had me worried at the start that I wouldn't be able to understand much but I settled into it nicely and

Mr. Cat and the Jackal....check them out please!!!

really loved it.  Daniel Radcliffe is no longer Harry Potter.  He has come into his own and is an amazing theater actor.  He seems to has found his niche and I hope he sticks with it.  After the theater Helly and I parted ways for a bit.  She had some house viewings to go to with Will and I headed home to check in with my American friends who would be awake and starting thier day.  I was able to talk to my mom which was so great and such a special surprise.  I was also so greatful for all the emails and FB posts....made me feel like home was with me a bit.  After a bit of catch up it was off to the final bit of my birthday celebration....Live Music at the Half Moon.  Helly joined me after her viewings and I had made friends with some South Africans while waiting for her so we all enjoyed music by Mr. Cat and the Jackal together.  There was some dancing...some drinking and a birthday shout out by the band at the end of the show.  Such an amazing birthday!!!  I am so blessed to be here, living with great friends and having life changing experiences.  I can't thank my London crew enough for such an amazing birthday!   My American crew thank you for all the love and wishes you sent over the internet...it's hard when we are so far apart but I love that you are just a Skype call, or email away.  Thanks everyone for a wonderful birthday...can't wait to see what this next year has in store!