As this site is primarily a record for me to look back on (and hopefully laugh) from the comfort of my rocking chair one day, I feel it entirely necessary to document my birthday get together with friends… Birthdays abroad can be strange things away from friends and family at home, but thankfully, a rowdy bunch agreed to help me celebrate.
As a seventies baby, I have to thank them for giving in to my whim of fancy dress seventies style, and stepping up to the challenge fantastically! I don’t think I will forget the sight of Yoda, Darth Vader (who are actually married by the way), Stevie Nicks, Princess Leia and Hans Solo (still happily married!), a couple of hippies and a seventies porn star (in his wife’s jeans!) emerging from taxis and walking up our driveway, and I am sure our bemused Bavarian neighbours won’t either…
Mr R and I went as John and (a massively inflated) Yoko – in white, not naked – although it was a hot night so John’s beard and wig didn’t stay on for long. Not so hirsute John managed to carry on with the act for the rest of the evening however with the worst accent, and periodically annoying us with renditions of “Woman” on his guitar. Incidentally, if you are looking for decent fancy dress in Munich and beyond, I highly recommend Karneval Universe, I think they have nearly every outfit/accessory you can think of, including costumes for dogs. Really.
I have to thank another friend for turning up with boxes of gorgeous fresh food (together with every utensil imaginable) before cooking up a storm and serving up a majestic 8 course Thai Feast – all the while keeping cool calm and collected in the kitchen. I am sure my best attempts under the same hectic circumstances would have been beans on toast for 12, but she not only cooked exquisitely, she also managed the washing up – I need to order her a Wonder Woman costume!!
I also have to thank another friend for the truly magnificent cake above – with an elevated number to include another special birthday person in attendance. Almost too pretty to cut, it has to be perhaps my favourite birthday cake to date – apart from the Snail cake challenge that I set my poor Mum for my 8th birthday, and that she actually managed to carry off (I must ask if she has a picture somewhere, it was amazing!).
Thanks have to go to everyone in attendance for my aching jaw from all the laughter, and to Hans Solo who refused to sit down for long and did far too much helping out. Yoda gets a special mention for managing to overcome a personal phobia by keeping his “face” on for a lot of the evening until he almost passed out from either claustrophobia or the heat, I couldn’t tell (but not before stealing Princess Leia’s space age fan!)! Thanks to the baby too as despite the night long celebrations as I am not currently able to drink, I woke up hangover free the following morning! And the biggest thank you has to go to Mr R who got up the next morning and cleared away the rest of the detritus whilst I slumbered on.
It is said that friends can become family to a certain extent when you live abroad, and I have to agree. Being lumped together by language, country and circumstance can forge firm friendships faster than usual, but of course thanks must also go to my real family and other friends across the globe who despite not being able to be there to celebrate, did manage to make my birthday special too… I am sure we will make up for lost time at a later date!
helloitsgemma says
Happy birthday and good luck with impending birth… will you have ‘woman’ as your birthing song?
Emma says
Thank you. And just in case Mr R reads this, most definitely not!! :D
Jaime Oliver says
Belated happy birthday wishes! … OMG those costumes are utterly amazing! i am loving yoda! ;-)
Emma says
Thanks so much Jaime! (:
Nicole says
Ha Ha! Fab party! Love the whole dress up thing (actually who am I kidding, I usually freak out at the idea but WISH I could embrace it)! Hats off (or on) to you guys. Looks awesome and yep, agree with everyone else, amazing cake!!! Happy belated Birthday! Nicole :)
Emma says
Thanks so much Nicole! (:
FrenchVillage Jacqui says
Looks a great fun time was had by all. I’ll be celebrating another birthday in France next week, but it won’t be fancy dress. It will be drinks with friends, a night away with hubby and playing mums taxi! #myexpatfamily
Emma says
That sounds equally good Jacqui, thank you! :)
Seychellesmama says
Ahh sounds like an amazing birthday and it really does sound like you have a fantastic group of friends there too!! I totally agree that your friends really do become your family in expat land, it’s an amazing thing!
That cake looks unbelievably good and Thai dinner sounds delicious, I’m very jealous!!
Thanks for sharing this with #myexpatfamily xx
Emma says
Thank you! (:
Clara says
I do wonder whether the expat/fancy dress thing is because you feel like you are able to be “someone else” when you are overseas? We had a great dress up dinner party (one of those murder mystery things) when we lived in Jamaica. Haven’t done it for a while though – will wait and see if we get invited to any dress-up occasions here in South Africa :)
Emma says
I know of people who intentionally move to “start again” every few years so you might be right! :)
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo says
That cake looks like it’s straight off Pinterest!!! I wrote about expat birthday parties for today’s expat linky though I wrote about kids’ parties not adults. I agree expats enjoy fancy dress but I have to add that the French do too. Looks like it was a brilliant party.
Emma says
Great isn’t it? Thank you, will pop over later! :)
Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork says
This sounds like so much fun! I tend to either ignore my birthday or run off home, but holding a fancy dress party is a much better idea ;-)
Emma says
Sadly it was too late for me to fly with being heavily bumped up, so this was a great alternative! :)
Jen @ 4128 miles says
What a fab party! I love fancy dress too – I think it’s a big thing for expats. Heaven knows why, but it seems to be something that has followed us around where ever we have lived! Ha ha – great fun and that cake looks just scrumptious! #myexpatfamily
Emma says
Thanks Jen. I know, I definitely think Fancy dress seems to be an Expat thing! :D
lisa prince says
omg this is a fantastic day not to be forgotten looks epic
Emma says
Thanks Lisa! (:
oana79 says
Goodness, what a beautiful birthday to remember! From the costumes to the cake to the 8 course meal, wow, amazing!xx
Emma says
Thanks so much Oana! :)
fritha says
brilliant outfits! you all look like you’re having such a great time :) and happy belated birthday! x
Emma says
Thanks so much Fritha! :)
Trish - Mum's Gone to says
I was wondering who you eventually decided to go as – that photo is fantastic. Delighted you had such a super celebration x
Emma says
Thanks Trish! xx
Gemma says
Great costumes! What a great theme, hope you have/had a lovely birthday x
Emma says
It was brilliant, thanks Gemma! (:
Jen says
You are lucky to have such a fab bunch of people in your life. I love the cake and woah 8 courses!
Emma says
We just about managed them! Thanks Jen! :D
Kara says
Looks like you had a brilliant time – wish I had had a party for mine now
Emma says
It was fun! Thanks Kara! :)
Rachel says
All I did throughout this post was laugh at the end photo and Yoda’s face lol, what a great time x
Emma says
Thanks Rachel! :D
JuggleMum, Nadine Hill says
hehe I love a bit of dress up! I went to a friend’s 40th as Princess Leia last year! Gorgeous cake – you have some very talented friends.
Emma says
Thank you! Yes I do very luckily! :D
Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely says
Best photo ever!! :)
Emma says
Thanks Rachel! :D
Pinkoddy says
Oh wow what an amazing birthday.
Emma says
It was fun, thanks J! :)
Sarah Ebner says
The cake is amazing!! And I love the costumes too. The party sounds fab – how lovely to have friends near and far, old and new!
Emma says
That is one good thing about being an Expat! Thanks Sarah! :)
Erica Price says
I can just imagine the conversations going on behind those Bavarian neighbours’ curtains.
Emma says
Me too, me too! :D Thanks Erica!
Abi - Angel Eden Blog says
It sounds like you had a great time and that cake looks amazing!
Emma says
Thanks Abi! :)
Grace says
Ha ha, I remember the Snail cake – you have prompted me to search out the photo albums – I am sure that the beautiful cake above tasted far more delicious though. So happy you managed to celebrate your ‘special birthday’ in such style. x
Emma says
Thanks Mum xx
Michelle says
That cake looks absolutely gorgeous, and I bet it tasted lush too! I’ve yet to experience a birthday abroad – but I plan to for my 40th… with Mickey Mouse :p
Emma says
I hear he does good celebrations! Thanks Michelle! :)
Beate says
Wow! What an amazing birthday party with such wonderful friends! Love the costumes, I can imagine how much you must have been laughing and enjoying it :) :)
The cake looks fabulous!
Emma says
Thanks Beate, it was a great evening! :)