As always, my birthday is National Sorry Day.
Every few years, my birthday also manages to fall on National Memorial Day. (Dear universe: I can’t help but applaud your dedication to my self-esteem.)
My parents, whom I’m currently house-sitting for, are in Japan, and their dog hasn’t been trained to say “Happy Birthday”.
And today, all day, my birthday, I’ll be at a forum entitled “Let’s Chat About Dying”. Then I’ll return home to an empty house.
(I don’t even want to talk about the explicit descriptions I had to read in the preparatory brochures for this forum.)
BEST.
BIRTHDAY.
EVER.
It’s my party and I can post irrelevant photos if I want to.
{ 95 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy birthday!
Thank you!
Happy Birthday lady! You’ll find some way to make it awesome.
Thanks Alayna
Laughing at the situation helped 
Happy birthday! It had better involve chocolate. Which you later post about. Yes.
Just lots of Lindt 85% dipped in peanut butter, if we’re being honest
Happy Birthday!
Thank you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY my dear!!! Perhaps we can have a belated birthday celebration for you at the BBB household with some other Canberra bloggers??? thoughts???? dates?
Yes, is my thought.
Dates… well not this Saturday nigth, but aside from that I ahve no life and am inviting myself along 
YES. YES. YES. Let’s celebrate Hannahs BDay at the BBB household ASAP!
COUNT ME IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’M IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope those exclamation marks adequately convey my super-duper excitement. The only slight issue is that I’m either not here or crazy-busy every weekend until beginning of July :S But let’s all chat via email, maybe?
HOW ABOUT A WEDNESDAY NIGHT, or similar. Like a weekday night. we can leave by nine, if that suit’s Lisa’s bedtime better
Haha, oh gosh, seeing as I hadn’t gone to bed before midnight in years, bar one or two night of being sick, this makes me giggle. Wednesday is definitely out for me because it’s gospel night, but another night during the week is a possibility?
If only I could get on a plane to Canberra right now, I could be wishing you happy birthday in person in, like, an hour’s time (if you were at the airport… and if my plane was leaving Brisbane airport right now… and if you really wanted to be at an airport on your birthday…). Alas, I think it’s a bit late for purchasing tickets, so internet birthday well-wishing will have to do for now! Happy birthday!
(Also I’ll be in Melbourne for a conference in November – any way you could fanangle your way there? We would eat chocolate mousse martinis at Koko Black for breakfast! I would insist upon such unexemplary and gratuitous behaviour!)
Being at the airport on my birthday would probably be more exciting than being home alone on my birthday, so I wish this were possible
And thank you!
Uh-oh – November might be tricky, as we’ve got a big work conference (in Adelaide) smack-bang in the middle :S But we should definitely talk more closer to then!
xoxo
Happy biiiiiiirthday! I didn’t celebrate mine, either. I spent it at my cousin’s graduation party. And it isn’t listed on Facebook, so I didn’t even get a birthday Facebook poke. Hmmph! Unacceptable! Make sure you do something better with yours, even if it is a one-person party.
Actually, I feel like that coconut is all you need for a one-person party.
Dearest Lauren, thank you so much. It’s really, really helpful to know I’m not the only one who has lack-lustre birthdays sometimes – though I hope all of yours are wonderful in future!
I really should’ve stolen that coconut from Jenni.
Happy Birthday Lovely Lady! I hope you made yourself something covered in chocolate to celebrate.
My birthday falls on National Food Day and World Boss’ Day. This combination seems a perfect match for my personality.
*laughs and laughs* That’s entirely brilliant! Your clever parents
Does dipping Lindt 85% into peanut butter count as “making myself something covered in chocolate”? If so, I followed your orders
Happy Birthday Hannah! I love all your irrelevant photos. Hope you’d have lotsa cakes and chocolates!
Thank you! All the birthday feasting is going to come over the next week, I think. I can’t wait
Happy birthday! You deserve a much better birthday than a Let’s Chat About Dying forum, so I sincerely hope the evening component makes up for the day component. I would also like to wish for your parent’s dog leaning “happy birthday” before the day is out, but I suspect it would be a futile wish. Alas. I’ll wish for chocolate and dessert for you instead
Thank you Kari! Unfortunately, it hasn’t really, but this weekend will hopefully make up for the lameness of today
Oh, and I appreciate all dessert wishes indeed!
Hahah happy birthday!
Thanks!
I love that last photo.
Hope you had a happy, happy birthday! (despite all the sorry coincidental events) 
Thank you Ricki! I’d like to believe my birthday is designed to make me a stronger person in the face of it
Bahaha…. I shouldn’t laugh my dearest, but that’s kinda hilarious. Happy Birthday Bestie, hope you spoil yourself with a chocolate treats. Hugs headed your way. Xxx
Just for laughing, you now owe me at least THREE birthday drinks at some point in the near future
Thank you for the hugs!! xoxo
Happy Birthday, Hannah!! As odd and unfitting as your current location may be, and as sad as it is that your parents are absent, you can at least warm yourself with the knowledge that you are adored throughout the foodie-blogging world for your unique and hilarious views on life, and for your recipes, reviews, tips and stories. Oh, and also for your photos, of course! I wish you a wonderful birthday, and an evening filled with fun, friends and laughter! xo
Thank you so much, Jonathon! You’ve honestly made me feel better, as Skype problems are currently prohibiting me from hearing from my parents, so I’m feeling a little sad and lonesome.
I’m truly, truly grateful for your kindness 
At least, Jonathon, she had a couple of birthday hugs (and tons of love and good wishes) from the grandparents – even if she had to come to collect them herself.
It would not be gilding the lily to openly state that Miss Hannah is blessed with the most wonderful family of whom I have ever heard tell. And this is certainly no less than she so richly deserves!
Very much beloved grandparents, I might add!
And the most wonderful readers, too, Jonathon! Thank you
Happy Birthday! Oh no, that creepy coconut again…heh. Hope you receive mountains of delicious chocolate concoctions.
Yay Geminis
Geminis are the best! We just discovered that, at my workplace, four of the five of us are Geminis
Your maternal Great Grandmother was, too, Hannah – I hadn’t thought of that before.
Really? When was she born?
Happy Birthday Hannah!
Thanks
Happy Birthday!!!!!
Thanks Alisa!
Happy birthday! I cant believe your parents didnt train their dog to wish you a happy birthday? Tats awful parenting on their part
I know, right? I should report them to the authorities
Well, umm, happy birthday?? I hope that at least parts of it are happy. Like the part where you read the comments on your blog post perhaps? And because you are awesome we are having a dessert night round at our place in celebration of your birthday (well, I will be celebrating your birthday when I’m stuffing my face with molten chocolate rice cooker cake and soy hokey pokey ice cream…not sure about everyone else…I think they’re just coming to eat dessert)
By the way, what is wrong with the hand of the guy on the right? It looks like he has a weird growth or an extra thumb or something.
Oh, and my parents have been away for my birthday at least twice and also dumped me in hospital just before another (where I spent 2 “glorious” birthdays…). Why do parents DO that?! Don’t they know how important birthdays are to us?
Happy Birthday! You are not just awesome as I said above, but also gorgeous
Oh Vaala, thank you. My spirits have taken a beating lately, so I really appreciate the lovely words.
Also, I always thought my worst birthday would be the time I spent my 21st alone in a hotel room in Chicago, but at least then my mum arranged to have flowers delivered to the room for me… I’m really sorry about your “glorious” birthdays though! One day we’ll celebrate yours together and make up for it
You know, it kind of looks like he’s holding a detonator (is that the right spelling? Darn me and my lack of bomb terminology)… too bad we can’t ask Rodin
I wouldn’t be lying if I said reading all the comments, texts, and messages I received yesterday/today have absolutely turned my birthday around from supremely lacklustre to at-least-I-have-wonderful-people-in-my-life
Also, rice cooker cake? Please send me the recipe so I can prove to my mum that rice cookers are worthy appliances!
Happy happy birthday!!
I love how some people have wished me happy birthday in three or four different formats
Thank you!! xoxo
My dear girl, I’m so glad I got my internet in time to wish you a happy birthday!!!!! I remember my last birthday, I didn’t have any one next to me either, and I got pretty depressed. But for you, it better be the happiest one ever!!
(ten thousands of hugs!!!)
Thank you Sophia! With such a lovely comment, it would be impossible for me to say it was a totally terrible birthday
xoxo
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAY EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE BE BLESSED FROM NOW AND FOREVER MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *It’s my comment and I exclaim if I want to*
aw man, wish I could make you desserts or something! are your parents near Sendai?
Thank you Ellie!! I’m completely honoured to be the recipient of such exclamations
I wish you could make me dessert too 
Funnily enough, this is my parents’ third time visiting Japan and they had planned a lot of their itinerary for the Sendai area. They ended up changing their plans a little!!
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day!
Thank you! These comments made it better
Happy Birthday cutie pie. What an interesting forum; probably bad timing on your birthday though!
As you go through life you realise that some birthdays are spectacular and others are downright crappy! It is only one day of the year after all and as long as we have a lot more good days than bad days, I think we’re doing alright.
I wish you fun, health and happiness every day.
xxxxxx
It actually turned out to be a really interesting forum, hosted by Julie McCrossin, but you know what? I still would’ve preferred to have a day where people, you know, were around a gave me hugs…
Margaret, your philosophy on life is pretty much exactly what I proclaim myself (and what I tell friends who are going through rough patches in their relationships, though that’s a bit more specific) – that on balance, there has to be more good times than bad
Thank you for your support and kindness, Margaret! You definitely help with the good 
Happy birthday Hannah enjoy your day ,may u have a prosperous & blessed year you gotta get urself a chocolate cake thats how i also celebrate my special day ,it seems we have common stuff we share the same birthday .not trying to steal ur limelight .i just wanted to say happy birthday to sum1 i dont know but that i share a birthday with ,im from South Africa.
Happy birthday to you too! And thanks for popping up to say hello, I love meeting new readers. I hope you had lots of delicious cake!
Happy birthday! May your every year be filled with love, chocolates and fun times! xox
Thank you so much! What more could a girl hope for than those three things?
happy birthday – may apologies and birthday treats – hope there is lots of chocolate in store! And a great big birthday present coming home with your parents from japan – wish I could bake you a nice chocolate cake
Thank you Johanna for the hypothetical cake – it’s the thought that counts
To be honest, I’ve asked my parents to contribute to my purchase of a new camera for my birthday, so I think this year will be short on openable presents! But I think that’s part of growing up 
Happiest of happy birthdays! Those preparatory brochures sound hard-core. No brochure can prepare me for the sinister gaze of the coconut though…
I don’t know… I think once you’ve read about secretion, mottled skin, urine intensity, and gurgling, you start to realise that plastic coconuts aren’t that terrifying after all…
Happy Birthday darling Hannah!
May there be many more wonderful birthday and many more irrelevant pictures! 
xxx
Thank you Lorraine! I think we can safely say there’ll be lots more of the latter, at the very least
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL! Wishing you the best, best, best b-day ever of all time in the world! I think I ought to make a cake in your honor, don’t you? Matt won’t mind, I’m sure.
Next year, you should come spend your birthday HERE where it’s 75 degrees F and sunny and warm!
Please, please, please help me make that a reality. Because this was so very, very far from the best birthday imaginable that I think I need a billion celebrated-with-Amber birthdays to make up for it
Please do make a cake in my honour! I reckon you could blog something magnificent with my tastes in mind 
Happppppppy Birthday lady! Hope you are enjoying
Thanks Errign! I think the enjoying is coming now, day/s after the birthday
Happy belated birthday, Hannah! Wishes you good health and happiness in the year ahead xoxox
Thank you! Very much appreciated
Happy birthday, Hannah!!! I hope you have a lovely day filled with even more chocolate than normal
I think if I did that, my body would become 93% chocolate
Thank you!
Happy Birthday Hannah! May you continue to be sweet and blog about nut butters, chocolate and random photos. Your readership <3's you.
Oh, Jess! You’ve made me a bit weepy
Thank you! xox
Happy Birthday, I love your random photo!
Teehee, thank you!
Happy Birthday Hannah
Hope it’s an awesome one, despite the dog not knowing how to say Happy Birthday!
-Jacey
Thank you so much!
(Stupid dog…)
My birthday often was on Day of Prayer and Repentance (yay!
), and this used to be a religious holiday, and I had off -time from school. That was great (I hated to go there), until the holiday was abolished. *sigh*
Ah, I feel with you a lot!
Oh, you lucky thing! Your birthday was a national holiday for awhile? That’s awesome!
(If we forget the repentance part…)
Oh, and the sarcastic “yay” was on the repentance part.
Got it
I’m way late.
So… Happy May 29th (or 30th, not sure how many hours are between us. I’ll see when this posts)!!
Thank you! I don’t mind belated greetings – after all, my parents only said Happy Birthday on the 29th
Happy Belated Birthday. I’m later than your parents. Eep! lol
Thanks Helen! And yes and no… my parents aren’t taking me out to celebrate for another three weeks! LAME.
Hey Hannah – this is WAY too late to be commenting on your birthday post when I should be posting on your half birthday post. But I wanted to share something with you. I think you have a special bond with your mum (and your dad too I know). I also had a special bond with my mum. I was only 11 when my dad died. Like you, mum’s birthday was on a special day – International Womens Day. When I made a speech at mum’s 90th birthday party in front of over 75 relatives and friends I finished by saying that mum’s birthday is shared with IWD and she gets my vote as International Woman of the Year. That got a good deal of applause. Then mum calls me over and whispers “what is international womans day dear”.. God bless her. Thanks again for a lovely solo today Hannah. See ya soon.
Never too late, Mike! Thank you for sharing this beautiful story (and the giggle!), though I’m so sorry to hear of your dad passing when you were so young. *hugs* I am incredibly happy and lucky to have the parents that I do; I genuinely like, respect, and love who they are as people, and can’t stand to go a week without chillin’ with them.
Though I’d rather your mum’s special day than mine, birthday-wise!
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