Hello, my lovelies!
I’m glad you could make time today for a special Weekend Coffee Share!
If we were having coffee today, we’d be at my place. Right away, you’d notice my usual clutter is gone and there’s a somewhat festive air. It’s a beautiful day, so I’d ask you to please make your way to the patio to join the others. Can I offer you a drink? Next to my standard fare of coffee and tea, I have sparkling water, ginger ale , orange-lemongrass lemonade, Fass-Brause apple & herbs, and a whole pitcher of Pimm’s No. 1 cup, which I like to call “Pimm’s on the Lawn,” for those who don’t have to drive and would like something alcoholic.
By now you may wonder what is going on. Today is my birthday. Welcome to my British Summer Birthday Party! I’m glad you could make it, the more the merrier!
If we were having drinks today, I’d gush all about the concert I attended last night. If you’ve read this blog before, you may know I interviewed a Hungarian piano prodigy the other day. Elöd Ambrusz is a good friend of mine, and last night was his first solo-concert. He played Scarlatti, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, and Liszt – all by heart, no sheet music here – and I sort of managed the press side of things in the run-up to it. We had over 100 people in attendance last night, and the standing ovation was truly deserved. I’m not just saying that because I know him – it was a brilliant performance. The audience demanded encores and didn’t want to let him go afterward. This 16-year-old is going places! Just watch!
If we were having drinks today (I’m saying that because I’ve already had a champagne breakfast with a friend who invited me, and I’m nursing a glass of Pimm’s) I’d tell you that the week leading up to this party was stressful. But I managed to get everything done just in time.
If we were having drinks today, I’d encourage you to try the Coconut-Cranberry-Apricot Flapjack, Scones and Cherry Bakewell Tarts I made myself. There’s fresh cream, clotted cream and jam around here somewhere.
If we were having drinks today, I’d tell you that I don’t feel older (yet). I do have lots of plans for the year ahead, though. In a year from now I want to be able to say I got my M.A. and finally found a job I like. I want to be able to call myself an entrepreneur with my little Etsy shop. And I want to have a story published by then. Whether it will be a rewrite of The Bravery of the Soldier, or my current WIP, or another story I haven’t even thought of yet I’m not sure, but I hope to have something with my name on it out there. It feels like I’ve been working towards that for a long time now.
If we were having drinks today, I’d tell you that I got a great early birthday present from the lovely Kristi at Hidden Staircase, who nominated me for the Blogger Recognition Award on Thursday! Thank you very much! I accept the nomination – but it might be a while before I get around to posting it. I’m still playing catch-up with all the other posts I need to get around to writing.
If we were having drinks today, we’d probably also talk a little about BBC’s Sherlock, and the teaser trailer for the (Christmas) Special that was released today. In case you haven’t seen it, this one-off takes Holmes & Watson back to Victorian times. Now, chances are you’ve noticed that I am a massive Martin Freeman fan. Have been since The Office (just look at the Richard III review at the top of my Home page). I’ve always thought he’d make a great Dr. Watson and I was proven right. He’s the perfect amount of sarcasm and concealed rage that makes him believable as the BAMF army doctor we know and love. I didn’t think it could get any better, and then Victorian John Watson comes along and is even snarkier. I love it. And I love the nods to previous Sherlock Holmes incarnations, including “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes” and the Jeremy Brett version, with a hint of the original Sidney Paget illustrations thrown in. I may or may not have (I totally did) fangirl over this last night.
It’s probably best to just show you:
Do you watch the show or are you a Sherlockian in any other way? Have you, like me, had enough of this “3 episodes then 2-year hiatus” nightmare?
If we were having drinks today, this would probably spark a fan debate among my other friends in attendance today.
Anyway, I think I’d better mingle a bit. I’m the hostess today, after all. Thank you for coming to my birthday party and having drinks with me, it was lovely seeing you. Grab a flapjack for the road to Part Time Monster and the other Weekend Coffee Sharers!
Same time, next week?
Study. Read. Write. 
Oh happy Birthday! I’d go for a fass brause and an only recommend it to others 🙂
I have so far not watched Sherlock, but I have very much enjoyed reading some stories and the old TV show is a great entertainment on you tube.
Enjoy your bed special day!
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
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Thank you! Fassbrause coming right up! This apple & herbs one tastes a little like Almdudler!
I like Sherlock Holmes in all incarnations, though this modern take is my favourite (re-read thing about my fave actor…). It’s just brought is up to date, the dynamics are mostly the same though. Watson is a bit more danger junkie than he was previously, and I’m waiting for the episode in which Watson’s comeback to something Holmes said is “No shit, Sherlock.” I think one of the main differences is that they are on first name terms – they share a flat after all. Check it out when you get the chance – I was hooked after 10 minutes. There are only 9 episodes 1 1/2 hour episodes in total.
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I will have to check out Sherlock then. But I’ll end up doing a Sherlock marathon if I am not careful…
I hope that you had an amazing birthday! How young does it make you, if I may ask?
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Happy Birthday! It’s great you’re celebrating in style, and a champagne breakfast after a busy week sounds perfect! I’ll take a Bakewell Tart for the road (my favourite), thanks so much for the drink and your company. Have a wonderful day 😀
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Thank you very much! The Bakewells turned out really nice, if I say so myself. Good choice! 🙂
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Happy Birthday!
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Thank you very much!
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Happy birthday!! I love Sherlock, was so excited to see that promo for the special. (Finally!) It’s not season four, but it’s something. 🙂 And you just get to that award whenever you can – trust me, I’ve got a few in my queue that have been there a long time! Life gets in the way. 🙂
Have a wonderful day!
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Thank you! From your gif use I kinda figured you’d be a Sherlock fan. 😉 Season 4 before 2017 seems unlikely at this point.I hate having to wait 2 years for 4.5 hours of a show…But the writing and acting is superb.
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It is fantastic. And Moffett does compare them to three 90 minute films vs three tv shows, which I guess makes me feel better about the wait? No, not really. 😉
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Reblogged this on Lance Greenfield.
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Happy Birthday!
Just a mug of tea and a very small square of Coconut-Cranberry-Apricot Flapjack for me please. I am running in the Wyvern 10k tomorrow in Eastliegh. I don’t want to pay the price for too much flapjack.
As a side comment, my Mum went out with Jeremy Brett in the ‘fifties, before was born. She told me that he was lovely, but was a spoilt brat who always had to have his own way. When the group of students wanted to go to a different London night club to Jeremy, he climbed a lamp post and refused to come down until they all agreed to go to his choice!
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Thank you very much! Flapjack and a cuppa, coming right up. That’s an awesome story about Jeremy Brett. That kinda reminds me of one of my own classmates.
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Happy Birthday!!! 😀
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What a special coffee date! Happy birthday, Conny! I’m glad you finished everything in time. And thank you for the drink. Just because it’s your birthday, I will be sure to enjoy a grown up drink in your honor! Happy celebrating, Dear One!!!
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What a delight to receive an invitation to join you and spend some time in your company. I’ll gladly accept a coffee and raise my cup to you, Penblwydd Hapus i chwi as we say in my Country, or Happy Birthday to you since you’re over the border. I thought I’d had quite a journey to get here, not that I’d have missed it for a minute.
I’m sure I’d be dazzled by your conversation and your obvious wit and would be sure to agree with you as regards Martin Freeman who certainly appears to be flavour of the month, rightly so given his performances in The Hobbit, LOTR and of course Sherlock ( I’ve never seen the office). I totally agree that he’s very convincing as John Watson. I haven’t seen the clip of the Christmas Special which is far too long since the last episode of the last very short series. But if his sarcasm is lent another degree or two, I’m sure it will be fantastic.
I regret I must start my return journey now but thanks so much for your hospitality and your sparkling conversation.
Same time next year?
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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Happy birthday! Pimms and flapjacks sound just wonderful 🙂
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Sounds like a great birthday! Im a big sherlock fan too and Martin is a big part of the reason. I go mad trying to watch ANYTHING that comes on as a series, I have to wait until the end and then marathon them all in one day!
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Happy Birthday! What a party, thanks for inviting me. Sugar of any type is a hit with me, but homemade goodies are best of all. And I’m crazy for scones. I’ll help you search for that lost jam.
Yes, I’m in love with the new Sherlock incarnation! But I adore anything Sherlock or Victorian in general. : )
Enjoy your wonderful birthday weekend!
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Orange & lemongrass lemonade and a scone with cream and jam, please! Sounds amazing at your house. I’ve literally got water or coffee here 😦 haha. Thanks for inviting us in
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Happy birthday! Sounds like you’re going to have a fun time of it. 😀
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Happy Birthday! (although I know this is a couple of days late.) Thank you also for the glass of Pimms (my first of the year) and for showing me the Sherlock trailer. I love Sherlock but didn’t realise there was a new trailer out. Huzzah.
Hope you had a wonderful birthday weekend. 🙂
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