One thing or a mother: Celebrating my birthday in daytime style in Worthing

Last week was my birthday.
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Aside from it being a good excuse to eat a lot of cake (FYI – I don’t need one), it was also a chance to have a meal out with my friends.

While I really love my children, there is nothing that makes a mum of small people more giddy than the thought of going out on your own without a giant bag filled with baby wipes, Pom-Bear and an assortment of items Toy Barnhaus would be proud of.

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So on Saturday, off I tottered to meet some friends for lunch at the Thomas A’Becket pub.

Katherine with hair that had not almost been swallowed by her curlers.Katherine with hair that had not almost been swallowed by her curlers.
Katherine with hair that had not almost been swallowed by her curlers.

Don’t get me wrong, I love an evening out, but there is just something more practical about going out during the day. Namely that thanks to years of children waking me up before it’s even light, I now struggle to stay awake past 9pm. Don’t worry, Boris, a 10pm ‘late-night’ pub curfew certainly won’t be a problem for me.

The downside to a lunchtime outing, however, is that applying a full face of make up and curling your hair while in the throes of providing a smörgåsbord of mid-morning ‘snacks’ is just a smidgen stressful. Unless you appreciate a repetitive chorus of ‘Muuuuuuuummy I’m still hungrrrrrrrrrry’, in which case you would have found my house a delight. I, on the other hand, hanker for the days when I had three hours to spend getting ready while blasting out a Ministry of Sound Ibiza album on my CD player (fear I might be showing my age, here...).

Not to be deterred, I was fully dressed-up and ready to leave the house by 11.30am, having only had one minor mishap involving an automatic hair curler. It decided to eat my hair, and no amount of yanking would free it. With panic rising and hair beginning to singe, my husband managed to free it – after having a good laugh at me (standard). Thank goodness, as I’m pretty sure dangling electrical appliance isn’t the latest A/W20 trend.

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Another minor issue with earlier-in-the-day get togethers is having to brave the streets in your full ‘going out-out’ gear while the rest of the world seems to be in activewear. Which is even less ideal when it’s windy and your ill-thought-out wrap dress catches every breeze and flashes your knickers to unsuspecting joggers and cyclists.

Having made it to the pub without being arrested for flashing, I faced my next challenge – navigating the track and trace QR code (having your phone camera on helps, apparently) and mobile ordering. I’m not known for my quick decision-making prowess at the best of times, so when faced with the pub’s entire food and drink menu on my mobile I was more bewildered than ever. It just seemed like such a lot when written down on a small screen.

But I’m not complaining, because the TAB has done everything it can to make sure you’re as ‘Covid safe’ as possible. I really can’t fault the staff. Especially because they brought me Pimm’s and wine (not mixed together, just to be clear). Anyone who delivers booze direct to my table literally with the magic click of a phone ‘button’ has won my vote.

So, that was it. After a quick stop off in my friend’s back garden for a couple of ‘for the road’ Aperol spritzes (I’m hoping if I mention it enough they might send me some for free!), I was on my way home, just in time to help with bedtime.

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Not my best planning, but I need to keep my husband on side. The new lockdown ‘rule of six’ means I couldn’t go out with all my friends at once. So he might just be finding himself flying solo with the kids again this weekend while I go out for my birthday meal, part two. What a shame!