Words from my heart…

To me, one of the worst things in life is knowing you have hurt a friend’s feelings. It appears that I have done just that recently.
I felt the need to share this in case anyone else was feeling upset by my actions.

A dear friend wrote to me and shared that she was hurt because she and her husband were not invited to Bill’s birthday dinner.
Maybe there are others of you out there who feel the same way?
Luckily for me, this friend came to me and spoke her mind so I could clarify things.

Let me start by saying that Bill did NOT want a party. And he hates surprises! However, I wanted to do something special for him as it was his 50th.
I took him away for the weekend and hired a private room so we could have a surprise birthday dinner for him.
I had to make an executive decision on numbers guest-wise as the location was expensive and we were limited for space.
I was absolutely delighted when all of Bill’s brothers and their spouses wrote to me and said they wished to attend the event.
Bill’s Mum also flew in from NC to be there.

There were a lot of people I would have liked to have invited. We know a lot of amazing and special people, and Bill is much-loved by many.
And in return, we love a lot of wonderful people.
However, I was limited to a certain number of guests.

Please know it was not my intention to leave anyone out. There was no hidden agenda or bad feelings.
I would never want to hurt anyone’s heart.
I only wanted to do something good for Bill… a small celebration of his turning 50.

There are many of you out there that I would have loved to have come to this event, but please know it wasn’t a big party and I wanted to keep it as intimate as possible, because I know that is what Bill likes.

I hope you all understand my predicament and where my heart is.
Please reach out to me if I have offended any of you at all. I will listen with an open mind and heart.

Friends Reunion & Beaulieu House and Motor Museum

Jane (m best buddy from ballet school... since we were 3 years old!), Milly, Simon and Me

Jane (m best buddy from ballet school… since we were 3 years old!), Milly, Simon and Me

Old Bournemouth Ballet Club Gals!

Old Bournemouth Ballet Club Gals!

My old school chums!

My old school chums!

IMG_0447

I went to Arts Educational (stage school) with Janine!

I went to Arts Educational (stage school) with Janine!

The Steamhouse Crew!

The Steamhouse Crew!

IMG_0466

Murilova Ballet School Alumni

Murilova Ballet School Alumni

Beaulieu with Stoss and Michael

Beaulieu with Stoss and Michael

Beaulieu House

Beaulieu House

The flying car from Harry Potter

The flying car from Harry Potter

IMG_0489

Mr Bean's Mini Cooper

Mr Bean’s Mini Cooper

IMG_0491

I love minis!

I love minis!

At Beaulieu Motor Museum

At Beaulieu Motor Museum

IMG_0509

IMG_0512

IMG_0513

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

IMG_0517

Getting into it!

Getting into it!

IMG_0531

James Bond's Aston Martin before.....

James Bond’s Aston Martin before…..

...and after!

…and after!

Wet Nellie from The Spy Who Loved Me!

Wet Nellie from The Spy Who Loved Me!

IMG_0581

IMG_0584

IMG_0585

IMG_0631

Picnic in the gardens

Picnic in the gardens

IMG_0635

IMG_0636

IMG_0637

IMG_0641

The Abbey

The Abbey

IMG_0651

IMG_0662

IMG_0664

IMG_0673

IMG_0677

IMG_0679

IMG_0684

IMG_0698

IMG_0716

IMG_0723

IMG_0726

IMG_0733

IMG_0740

IMG_0742

IMG_0744

IMG_0745

IMG_0749

IMG_0750

Beaulieu House

Beaulieu House

Inside....

Inside….

IMG_0757

IMG_0763

IMG_0764

IMG_0774

IMG_0776

IMG_0780

IMG_0782

A river cruise and shopping at the Champs Elysees!

A smooch on the River Seine!

A smooch on the River Seine!

Leg lifts!

Leg lifts!

A little thigh work!

A little thigh work!

IMG_0301

Tuilleries Gardens again... we loved them!

Tuilleries Gardens again… we loved them!

IMG_0305

Foxgloves everywhere in France and England! Gorgeous!

Foxgloves everywhere in France and England! Gorgeous!

IMG_0307

IMG_0308

Ramiro and his "Obelix"!

Ramiro and his “Obelix”!

The Grand Palais

The Grand Palais

IMG_0312

Taking a rest on the Champs Elysees

Taking a rest on the Champs Elysees

Cartier, bitches!

Cartier, bitches!

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe

IMG_0330

Smooches by the Eiffel Tower!

Smooches by the Eiffel Tower!

IMG_0342

Michi with our riverboat tickets

Michi with our riverboat tickets

The bridges on the Seine are so ornate!

The bridges on the Seine are so ornate!

Real gold!

Real gold!

IMG_0359

IMG_0361

IMG_0368

IMG_0370

House boat!

House boat!

The Opera Garnier, meeting Michi and Ramiro, and Montmartre!

Opera Garnier

Opera Garnier

So stunning inside... real gold and marble

So stunning inside… real gold and marble

WOW!

WOW!

IMG_0226

Michaela, my dear friend from Austria

Michaela, my dear friend from Austria

With my BFFs, Ramiro and Michi

With my BFFs, Ramiro and Michi

Opera Garnier

Opera Garnier

IMG_0239

Dinner at La Poissonerie

Dinner at La Poissonerie

IMG_0245

Doors of the Notre Dame

Doors of the Notre Dame

Moulin Rouge!

Moulin Rouge!

IMG_0253

Van Gogh's pad in Montmartre

Van Gogh’s pad in Montmartre

The view from Montmartre... you can see the Opera House with its gold roof in the distance

The view from Montmartre… you can see the Opera House with its gold roof in the distance

One of two remaining original windmills in Montmartre

One of two remaining original windmills in Montmartre

The Night Fox... a legendary guy who could walk through walls, but got stuck one day....

The Night Fox… a legendary guy who could walk through walls, but got stuck one day….

Montmartre... Mountain of the Martyrs

Montmartre… Mountain of the Martyrs

Beautiful gardens near apartments

Beautiful gardens near apartments

Dalida

Dalida

IMG_0278

Lapin Agile

Lapin Agile

Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur

IMG_0285

The Wall of Love in Montmartre

The Wall of Love in Montmartre

IMG_0293

IMG_0294