We have been waiting for this day for quite a while, planning and plotting and at last the day finally came and when mum woke up on Monday morning she was 100…….. a whole century of living and I cannot imagine how that feels.
On Sunday, the day before, the family (the ones she hasn’t managed to outlive) gathered together for a celebration of mum’s special birthday. I had organised a private room at the Keys in Yarm near to where mum lives for a two course Sunday lunch. The organiser at the venue, Kimberley, couldn’t have been more helpful; the tables were beautifully decorated with flowers and candles – we just added banners, balloons and scattered lots of photos of mum’s life around.
My sister made the cakes, they were wonderful. One had a lovely scene of mum when she was in the Women’s Land Army during the war (a job that she was always very proud of and for which she has a badge) and the other she decorated with flowers. All the flowers and decorations on the cake were handmade by her and her little team (husband, daughter and friend) and I know they were up until the early hours getting them finished.
I made a place card for each of our guests using whatever old photos I could find of them in their younger days, so each person had to find their seat by recognising their own photo. It became a great talking point too with a lot of memories being shared.
It was all a big surprise for my mum, but a very welcome one. I think she struggled to grasp who all the family members were as we don’t see some of them very often, but as she keeps reminding us all now ‘I am 100’ so she is now officially allowed to have memory lapses. I didn’t like to point out that her memory has been ‘lapsing’ for quite a while now!!
It was a struggle to know what to buy her so we bought her a very large display clock for her bedside table that is specially designed for people with memory problems; it tells you if it is morning, afternoon or evening, (in the hope she will not keep ringing us in the early hours thinking it is the afternoon). We also made up a hamper of her favourite bits and pieces that everyone could add to.
The celebrations continued on the Monday, her actual birthday, at the retirement apartments where she lives. The residents had wanted to get together and put a little spread on for mum which was nice as her main carer could attend as a guest too.
So mum is completely wiped out now and will probably sleep away her days for the rest of this week!
Meanwhile, we have yet another celebration to turn our attention to as it is Master Freddies’s seventh birthday party on Sunday, but this time it will be mostly his little school friends attending this one.
Next Monday might see me lying down in a darkened room all partied out.
where the journey takes me 2 
So many special touches to make the day look good, I love your idea of using old photo’s for name places, I might steal that one. Happy birthday to your dear mum, I hope the clock works it’s magic. Freddie is almost 7, wow, our Will in 9 in a few weeks.
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The photos were a big hit and a surprise for the guests – often pictures they had not seen for years or didn’t even know existed! They were a great talking point.
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That sound like a perfect family ‘Do’ – Happy Birthday to your mum ! Time passes so quickly – our oldest granddaughter is now 18 . Sheila
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Wow 18 – they grow up so quickly. Our youngest grandchild is only 2…so a while to go yet for us!
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What a fantastic ‘do’ you and your sister put on for your Mum’s 100th birthday celebrations. Many congratulations to her as well. I can’t imagine being 100! I’m coming up for 73, and feel every year some days, but I’m thankful to still be here, happy and healthy, especially as my Mum died aged 47.
Nothing very exciting happening here. Lots of drawer and cupboard sorting and picking Iris up from school and babysitting C, who now weighs 6lbs 12oz. Take care. Gill Xx
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How awful for you to lose your mum when she was only 47. I am poles apart in nature to my mum but I cannot imagine her not being in my life.
That is a good weight, both my children were 7lb and over when they were born, for which I was grateful as their fragility frightened me at the time. I dare hardly hold my premature niece when she was born, she was only a few pounds and so tiny. X
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What a lovely celebration. How wonderful that your mum served in the Women’s Land Army. The cakes are marvelous! Stephanie
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Thank you Stephanie, my sister always excels at the cake making and decorating even though it is just a sideline for her.
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What an amazing milestone. The cakes look amazing and the photo placecards is a lovely idea. So glad your mum had a wonderful celebration for her birthday. (johnnyjumps up)
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We had a good day and it was lovely to see the extended family when it was a joyful ocassion and not a funeral gathering as is more often these days.
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What a special occasion and such a wonderful celebration. The decorations are so thoughtful, and beautifully made. And two cakes! Why not.
Belated Birthday Wishes, Nora! Xx
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One cake for the family and the second for the day after with the friends of mum in her apartment block. x
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A wonderful way to celebrate your mum’s very special birthday. !00 years old – an amazing life. So many happy smiles to share this day with her.
Hope Master Freddie enjoys his birthday too.
Now it’s time for you to relax, unwind and recover.
Have a lovely week x
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We really relaxed after Freddie’s party…with a cold virus! Both parties were really good, but we are all partied out here now. x
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That looks a wonderful celebration! Congratulations all round!
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Thank you, it was a lovely day despite the torrential rain going on a times outside.
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