Today I am 40

Yes, it's happened, I'm now a 40-year-old spinster but I don't feel too bad about it! Woke at 7am by Mother carrying a tray containing a large cup of tea and an enormous cake fashioned out of Mr Kipling's finest cakes. There were slabs of country fruit cake, French Fancies and Battenberg cakes all fashioned into a large mass by mother's impressive ribbons of icing. She'd written 'Happy Birthday Margaret, 40 years yg' When I asked her why the last word was somewhat deficient in letters she replied that 'the icing was running out and she hadn't time to make any more.'

I sipped my tea and ate a slice of cake, both of which were scrummy and discussed plans for the day. As you already know, I'm going out for the day with my cousin Eleanor in London whilst Mother is keen to get her hair re-set at the pensioners' special, which is only available on Thursdays between the hours of 11:15 and 12:05.

Mother gave me my presents which consisted of the following items purchased from M&S: 6 pairs of opaque tights, a tshirt with a daringly low neckline, a bronze satchel and a ceramic biscuit barrel in the shape of the pig which makes an 'oink!' noise when one lifts the lid. I thanked Mother profusely for my lovely gifts.

At 10 am precisely I met Eleanor at the local station. I was keen to ensure that Eleanor took full advantage of the Gold card discount I could provide for her one day travelcard (a saving of £2.20!) I also managed to pick up a 2for1 London booklet and we used it to gain a discount on the Handel House Museum (HHM).

The HHM is a strange place, the woman on the reception desk was in a neck brace and therefore couldn't move her neck to gesture where the entrance was, which was rather confusing! We finally took the lift up to the house and enjoyed wandering around the various rooms. Whilst we were in there another visitor was invited to 'leave his rucksack at reception' and another asked to play Handel's pianoforte - the cheek! After 2 hours Eleanor was clearly bored and I had ensured that I'd eked all possible value from our tickets and we duly departed.

We ended up in the Civil Service Club again and Eleanor was keen to order a pint of Peroni for herself but it was orange juice all the way for me. Whilst there she spotted a friend of her husband's, George and they chatted about 'the good old days of the civil service when everyone used to get tipsy at lunchtime'. Now call me a prude but that behaviour is deplorable!

After 2 pints we all left as George had an appointment with the Minister and Eleanor and I journeyed to the National Portrait Gallery, we had a lovely time wandering around before it was time to go and catch the train.

I'm really looking forward until tonight!