Not a day for temperance

This year was the year I discovered why my Mum never has anything to suggest when we ask her what she wants for her birthday. How do you tell your kids that all you want is a little peace and quiet?

Seriously, that's all I wanted. So The Little Man went to daycare as usual and The Boy and I had a relaxing day off which started with creamy mushrooms on toast and ended with dinner in front of the TV watching All Saints (or pretending to watch, as the case may be).

I really felt like a princess all day. After my waxing appointment, Winnie from the Sydney Lifestyle Centre found out it was my birthday and, for my present, asked me to choose from a range of products on the shelf. So I went home with some massage oil, plonked it down in front of The Boy and announced that he owed me a massage. He smirked. I slapped him and told him to stop being such a perve. For lunch, The Boy took me to Tabou, a French restaurant at Surry Hills. He sweetly reminded me of the little Parisienne restaurant we discovered during our honeymoon (and which served me what I still consider the best meal out I've ever had - ever). The restaurant indeed had a very French look and feel, complete with unpronounceable menus.

It was also soooo delish! We shared an entree of casolette de ris de veau and I had my very taste of...snail. It was actually very nice but it would have been better had I not known what I was eating. When I sliced into it, a creamy substance oozed out. Now this may have been cream; I don't know. But I kept imagining the slugs that you find after a rainy day, crawling around the driveway and getting squashed by passers by. Needless to say, I pretty much picked out the mushrooms and left the rest to The Boy. For my main, I had the roast duck. It wasn't what I was expecting and while it was also very good, it was a little too rare for my taste. And there was a lot of it. For dessert, I had a little dessert degustation plate and it was absolutely divine: grape jelly thingy, apple crepe, chocolate mousse, creme brulee and a hazelnut sorbet with praline. I would have gone there for the dessert alone.

Of course, a day off wouldn't be complete without some retail therapy. I scoured Myer for necessities and came home with a new pair of shoes and assorted tops. I have another pair of shoes on hold so I'm stewing on it. We'll see if tomorrow it still seems necessary...or much too extravagant.

I challenged The Boy to get me something not too expensive but meaningful this year. He bought me a book by Mary Janice Donaldson and a gift voucher for open classes at the Sydney Dance Company. I was - and am - totally stoked.

I've also had so many birthday greetings by SMS and phone. I feel so very lucky to have the family and friends that I do. This weekend, nothing too out of the ordinary happened but it was very special all the same.

Now. Off to my appointment with Homer Hudson.