Not everyone is lucky enough to have a bestie, but I do and she's pretty awesome. Stan (known to inferior mortals as Caroline) and I met in sixth form (when I was still making some pretty questionable hair and clothing choices) and have been finishing each other's sentences for most of the last decade. She was by my side as my maid of my honour on my wedding day and we have supported each other through every major life up and down of the London chapter of our lives. I don't have a sister, but then again, I sort of do.

Obviously, her new decade had to be celebrated and as a lover of the surprise it was only appropriate to organise a top secret weekend of fun. On the Saturday night Sam, Lucy and I  went for dinner at what I believe is London's very best restaurant, Fera at Claridges. Fera is the brainchild of Simon Rogan and serves delicate, delicious ethically sourced food in the most beautiful grey and green art deco room. It was a perfect venue to celebrate a very special lady.

On the Sunday we organised a larger surprise Sunday lunch at a pub that holds a lot of happy memories, the Stag Hampstead, with all of Stanley's friends in attendance. It was a perfect afternoon of laughter, roast beef and cake accompanied by (no, I am not kidding) the yapping of Nicole from All Saints tiny dogs!! One of our favourite thing about the Stag has always been that you are guaranteed to spot a celeb, and we were not disappointed.

All in all, it was a suitably wonderful weekend. And we still have our joint birthday trip to Lisbon to come ...

I am pleased to say that all February 2016 goals were duly completed. The photo above is from a particularly lovely brunch in Bath with my Dad and my Uncle; I was so glad I went home in the end.

This month's goals largely centre on  Sam's 30th birthday and our trip to Asia are thus all very pleasing:

• calmly execute the plans for Sam's surprise birthday weekend, this weekend!!
• cook a three course dinner for 18 people (menu now planned!), the largest group I have ever cooked for;
• blog Stanley (my bestie's) birthday;
• continue the contentment challenge (minus any essential items for our Asia trip);
• give internal presentation at work;
• make sure case load is in order before handing over to my colleagues during our Asia trip;
• enjoy every moment of our trip to Hong Kong and Singapore!!!