It's always good to play hide & seek on your birthday...

By the time they opened their eyes, I'd hidden that cake in my stomach. And I've no idea who that boy is, but he gate-crashed Amelie's birthday too.

Anyhoo, it was 41 years ago today that I first graced this planet with my presence, and by lunchtime today, I'd already celebrated with a doctor, a cake and a party. Which is pretty much how I did it in 1973.

I'd begun the warm-up to this event by eating ice cream on St Leonards beach yesterday afternoon with my two little rays of sunshine...

... but it was soon time to wave goodbye to the sea, and attempt to sprint up the steps from the beach before the kids caught up with me...

That's Amelie risking a groyne injury by running around barefoot. Unfortunately, it didn't slow her down, and she managed to get back to the car before I could leave without her.

We arrived back in Brighton last night in time to receive our delivery of cakes from Asda, and Amelie has now gone camping with a friend. Which is the birthday gift I was dreaming of. In addition to that, I've received an hour long massage from Lisa, which came in the form of a voucher for a local health salon, and a t-shirt from my brother, featuring a dartboard and the words "You can't beat a bit of bully". It just screams pound shop.

As for the doctor, she gave me the very special gift of a 'fit note' which allows me to work half days from Thursday until I see Occupational Health on August 15th. It stipulates that my work should be "non-patient-facing", so I'm allowed to do clinics as long as I keep my back to the camera.

Lisa, Toby and I are now off down to Brighton Marina to celebrate my birthday by purchasing a cheap watch to replace the one that Amelie 'borrowed' from me last week, and then returned with a smashed-up face. I was tempted to return the compliment in a more literal sense, but instead I'm simply putting it down to experience, and buying myself a new one. And withholding her pocket money until she's fifteen. Let's face it, I'm already deeply in debt...

Those two ice creams cost me five quid.