How to celebrate a very first birthday in full lockdown

There was a lot of pressure around the cake

Be it your 60th spent all alone, the 21st without a raucous party or a 39th talking to your friends on Zoom, it is really difficult to capture the spirit of celebration when you can’t go anywhere, see anyone, or do anything.

It was my daughter’s first birthday on Tuesday. Before having kids, I didn’t see the point of having a party for someone who wouldn’t really know what was going on, and definitely wouldn’t remember it.

But as soon as the milestone started to approach, and it became obvious that no normal celebration would be allowed, a kind of birthday mania overtook me. First it was buying the presents, then her outfit, then locating a helium balloon that could be pre-ordered and picked up locally (no mean feat at the moment, many thanks to Banner Cross post office), then adding in badges and bunting, lion plates, party crowns, prosecco for the adults, “what would I wear?”, a last minute ball pit purchase...the list went on. None of that, however, compared to the pressure around the cake.

The cake, after all, was one of the few things that would make this day stand out from every other day at the moment. And it was to be Emilia’s very first taste of cake.Now I am not a baker. I have been known to ruin a roulade in truly spectacular fashion, but it just had to be home made. Also, have you seen the price of hand-made kids’ cakes these days? Not much point ordering in a specialist when there’s only three to eat it! Hours looking up recipes, half of the home-baking shelf at the Co-op, and three hours of stressed baking later a simple yet safe chocolate sponge with buttercream was produced. And she seemed to love it. Indeed, the rest of the cake had to be whisked away to safety before it was demolished.

The door had gone all day for days as couriers and friends dropped off cards or gifts.

Sadly pouring rain put paid to a trip to the swings in Endcliffe Park but her little face lit up at the sight of her baby friends on a happy birthday Zoom call, and any gift with Postman Pat on. I would much rather have had a proper party outside the same four walls but for Emilia, the day was perfect.