On the stroke of midnight for my birthday, I heard the front door open whilst I worked at my desk close-by. Turning round to investigate, I saw three dear friends tiptoing in, one carrying a birthday cake with candle alight; another a bottle of Jack Daniels; and the third a basket of wine whilst videoing the procedings. All three were loudly singing “Happy Birthday” in the otherwise silent home.  What a lovely surprise quite unlike any I have ever had before!

It turns out that Rennie and Emi were in on the secret, Emi having distracted me earlier whilst Rennie used the intercom to tell security to let three friends through just before midnight – and Rennie having unlocked the door for them. I love the pictures they took outside, giggling like three naughty school girls whilst trying to be quiet.

Rennie and the children joined us all in the kitchen, partaking in the birthday cake that had just arrived and an equally delicious chocolate one from colleagues that had arrived some hours before. My friends and I ended up drinking single malt until the wee hours and when I eventually went to bed gone 4:30am, I felt very lucky. It set the scene for a wonderful day ahead of my daily gym workout at the Shangri-La being less time-bound than usual, Rennie enjoying the spa facilities whilst in parallel, and then for 3pm going down to the Sapphyr lounge (as it is spelt) to meet up with the children who walked from home to join us for a celebratory high tea. The day rounded off with me joining friends for a seafood dinner quite literally on the beach – where half way through we noticed the significance of the table number we’d sat at by random chance!

Arrival home was bang on midnight, so 24 hours to the minute after the fun had started. A lovely, lovely day and I felt very privileged.

Steve