36: collector's value

In an ideal world, I would have liked to be kissed awake by the Boyfriend with a capital B on my birthday, but as this position is still vacant, I have to count myself lucky that I have wonderful friends and colleagues to do the pampering. Such as Cleo, for example, who sent me a parcel with these contents:

The bottle promises to deliver Peace of Mind, which I suppose can never go amiss. I've tried it already and found it refreshing rather than peace-inducing, but it certainly was a pleasant sensation.

When I came to the office this morning, my desk was decorated with paper garlands and streamers and a huge bouquet of flowers. One colleague who's on vacation this week came in with a bunch of flowers as well. I was touched. What's more, one colleague whose wife is a collector and expert of antique beads gave me a selection of beautiful Bohemian glass beads that deserve a post of their own.