Grandma turned 99 yesterday. I’m pausing here so you can say ‘awwww‘.

I heard that a lot yesterday. What a day it was! Grandma was thoroughly spoiled and a procession of neighbours and friends dropped by throughout the day to pay their respects to the doyenne of the cul de sac. Grandma was delighted and regaled her visitors with the secret to her longevity; according to her it is due to: olive oil, garlic, and 2 glasses of wine at lunch. I shall pause here for another ‘awwww‘.

At around 11.30, she got picked up to go to her luncheon club. I made sure she took the big boxes of chocolates to share with her lunch companions. She came back a few hours later with another box of chocolates and dozens of birthday cards.

Later that afternoon, the care company who help me out a little twice a week outdid themselves and came round with an ice cream truck to give grandma a 99 flake ice cream for her 99th birthday. She also had her first selfie with one of the carers- never too late to start! Another ‘awwww‘ pause.

We had a few more visitors later that evening with more gifts of flowers, jelly babies, and chocolates. We were both delighted and exhausted by bed time.

The day was pretty full on for me too. I had to wear another hat on top of my ’employee’ and ‘carer’ ones to include ‘party planner,’ and ‘baker’. I was running around greeting visitors and introducing them to grandma who can’t see well enough to recognise faces. This led to some awkward situations as I’m not very good at remembering names. I covered up my memory lapses by saying: ‘Grandma, look who’s here!‘ hoping the visitor would reveal their name. It worked very well, thankfully, and I was spared embarrassment.

In between the visitors, work calls, and emails, I had to do some emergency baking. I had failed in my plan to do a tiramisu much to the birthday girl’s disappointment. She agreed an acceptable plan B would be a boozy chocolate mousse, so with a Teams call on mute, I hastily whisked it up with extra added booze as an apology. I think she liked it as she refused to let go of her bowl to speak to my brother-in-law when he called to wish her a happy birthday later that evening.

Yesterday was hectic, joyful, and a welcome variation from the groundhog day we experience as carers. I was surprised and so happy to see how loved grandma is and, in that moment, I was proud of myself for enabling her to receive it.

P.S: The tiramisu is now planned for this weekend. 99-year-olds are divas.