Birthday fun during lockdown
Cake, candles and smiles
Neonatal intensive care nurse Joanne Murray turned her Rutherglen garden into an island paradise for her little girl’s 10th birthday to recreate the set from her favourite TV show.
NHS hero Joanne, who spends her nightshifts caring for Scotland’s sickest babies at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, refused to let lockdown cast a shadow over Anna Nicol’s celebrations.
Anna and sister Islay, six – both pupils at St Columbkille’s Primary – couldn’t cuddle up beside their grandad Ian Nicol and enjoy their favourite show, Death in Paradise, because he is isolating with their gran, Janette.
So instead, Joanne and husband Stuart turned their Parkhill Drive garden into fantasy location Saint Marie, and even made masks of the show’s main characters to help bring it to life.
The family wore colourful Caribbean costumes and marked Anna’s birthday on May 8 by transporting themselves to the imaginary exotic island.
Joanne explained: “The girls’ grandad looks after them when I’m on nightshift and my husband is working away.
“Their favourite programme to watch with him is Death in Paradise – they love it !
“They have become obsessed with it and think it’s hilarious. With the lockdown, they haven’t seen their grandad as he had cancer last year so is in the vulnerable category.
“They are really missing him and watching ‘their show’ together, as they call it. So, to cheer them up, I threw a surprise Death in Paradise party. It was great fun – if a little different and crazy!”
The family’s party was so imaginative that the Reformer has decided to award Anna a prize of a £25 Superdrug gift card, courtesy of our friends at the Rutherglen Exchange, to spend in the centre. Congratulations, Anna!
The 10-year-old was just one of many who shared pictures of their lockdown birthday parties with us.
Jet2 cabin crew member Frances Quigg, who is on furlough, was feeling low as her 26th birthday approached on May 10 and thought her special day would go unrecognised.
“She had a very tearful birthday morning, as she thought no one remembered,” explained mum Alison, of Spittal Road.
“But to her surprise, quite a few of her friends turned up, always remembering social distancing, with cards and presents which blew her away.”
Frances spent a very happy day with parents Alison and Jim – and her birthday really took off with a special aircraft cake!
Robyn Samson, of Cambuslang, marked her seventh birthday with mocktails, balloons and a barbecue with her parents, sisters and gran, while family and friends dropped by from a safe distance with cards and gifts.
As Josh Noble of Cambuslang approached his ninth birthday, he decided to design, bake and decorate his own birthday cake, based on one of his favourite movies, Disney Zombies.
He had fun in the garden with his parents and brother and sister, followed by a birthday tea of Dominoes Pizza and a generous slice of his Zombie cake.
Stuart Lockhart’s gran threw a party in the gazebo for his eighth birthday, which he celebrated with his grandparents and sister Freya, six.
His Auntie Stephanie also attended and, to his surprise, his mum Jamielynn – who had been self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms – was the guest of honour.
Little Corey Nisbet had a “pavement party” where friends and family stood outside his Reid Street garden at various times of the day on Thursday to wish him a happy birthday, all at a safe distance.
Corey, who took part in his virtual music class in the morning, had his favourite dinner – spaghetti bolognaise, followed by birthday cake.
His special day was rounded off with the 8pm clap to thank the NHS.
Said mum Pamela: “He had a wonderful day and didn’t know any differently.”
Send your birthday in lockdown pictures and details to news@ rutherglenreformer.co.uk.
There will be another chance to win a £25 Superdrug gift card from the Rutherglen Exchange Shopping Centre in next week’s Reformer.