Mum, Mummy, Ma, Mama.. you get the idea!

It's Ma's day of birth today & there could be no better or more appropriate Blip than one of my dearest mother in post dinner, full Birthday enjoyment mode. 25 again, such fun! I'm sure she was 21 last year, so work that one out!? Whatever, she's still as pretty & brilliant as ever.

I showed her this snap & she immediately thought she looked like her Dad & my Grandad, which I'm not too sure she's overly happy about. I must admit, she does bare a strong resemblance to Grandad sitting in this pose, & much like Grandad, in true raconteur style, I can imagine her beginning a joke, tale or humorous anecdote. Que some forced laughter & much groaning. Haha, love listening to Grandad.

Jenny & I had a day out in Tunbridge Wells. We spent the day wandering around the shops. It was a really nice way to spend a day off. We then returned & as promised, we set about preparing a chilli extravaganza feast for Mum's birthday meal. We made homemade chilli, guacamole & quesadillas, & served it with rice & sour cream. It was a fantastic fiesta of food, Mick's sister Mary & her partner Nigel had also joined us for the weekend, & we think everyone really enjoyed it. A bottle of Amigos, bottle pictured, was also a great accompaniment!

Jenny & Ri had visions of making a carrot cake, & everything was going according to plan, the cake was ready, the icing carrots, angel and love heart were prepared, ready for assemble, but tragedy struck. The blinking icing wouldn't set & despite Jen's baking expertise, it turned into a sticky, sugary, yummy icing waterfall, cascading down all sides of the cake. Suffice to say it wasn't as intended & therefore Chef Jenny would not serve it.

However, after some time had passed, allowing for our Mexican meal to churn & settle, & some useful advice from Mummy C, with a little jiggery-pokery & some box-clever thinking, we served pieces of the carrot cake drizzled with icing & it went down a treat! Hallelujah!

Carrot Cake Mark II should be making it's arrival on the morrow. You can taste the anticipation, literally I just had a piece, it's really tasty!

Happy Birthday Birthday Girl/ Mum! X x