If I had to sum up my birthday in one word this year, the word would be ‘thoughtfulness’. The people in my life made such an effort.

The cards were perfect. Here’s a sample.

The one on the left is from Flora. (Her literacy skills are very good, for a kitten.) The next is from Joy, who knows how much I like Quentin Blake and the idea of a hammock. The next card reads ‘Build yourself a book-nest to forget the world without’ and in it my goddaughter Evie wrote her own name and her little sister’s (sob!). The rose petal heart is from Alan.

Every gift I received was full of thought. Look.

Books, sewing, perfume, my favourite sweets (alphabet letters, of course), the prettiest of tea sets, a necklace, a keyring with Little Miss Sunshine on it.

After I’d told Alan about a lacemaking set I’d seen in an antique shop, he went back and bought it for me.

I was bowled over: it had never occurred to me that that was what he’d do, and he can already barely see me for crafts, so this was thoughtful and generous in every way.

Joy and I tried on watches when we were shopping for other birthdays a couple of weeks ago. Guess what she gave me.

She made me a dreamcatcher.

And then there’s this.

Yes, it’s a crumble, which she had wrapped up. The place where she works does the most amazing cherry crumble on some Sundays – so lovely, in fact, that I’ve been known to go to pick her up early and, y’know, have a crumble while I’m waiting. Joy had put one aside for me, and during her shift had persuaded innocent diners to look elsewhere on the dessert menu just to make sure it stayed safe.

And she baked me a cake.

My parents gave me this.

Which says it all, when you are surrounded by such kind, thoughtful and loving people. Whether today is a birthday or not.