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Leonard Cohen and My Boyfriend make me cry
It’s my birthday today, and I wasn’t going to mention it at all but then my lovely R woke me this morning with a cup of tea, a big grin and a small pile of presents, all from him. I thought I’d share as the gifts he chose say a lot about how well he knows me – and a lot about me too I guess.
First up… The Essential Leonard Cohen
…this is long overdue! What little Leonard Cohen I have is on ancient cassette tape, and as at least two of his songs reduce me to tears in an embarrassingly pavlovian fashion it’s amazing it’s taken this long to get it on a decent format. I know it’s a compilation but it has all my favourites and hey, with such a prolific artist where do you begin? I can’t wait to put this on, set my stopwatch and see how many seconds it takes before my eyes start leaking. I have no idea why the tears are so predictable, I always fight them (a losing battle) and I have heard the music so often that the initial shiver of unfamiliar beauty has long faded, but it still catches me out every time.
Next, The Snow Leopard
, a book I have long known about and yet… as with the Leonard Cohen, how did this one get away? Generally with natural history writing I prefer intimate tales told by people exploring familiar surroundings, I often find writing that relies on an exotic location to give it weight tiresome. However this classic tale has always appealed, and if friends who have read it before me know anything, I have some beautiful prose and observations on the natural world through a Buddhist perspective to look forward to. I’m filled with anticipation at the thought of reading this.
Finally, That’s Entertainment! The Complete Collection
is a glorious slew of thousands of clips from old MGM musicals, I know it’s cheesy but I LOVE it! This one’s for pulling the duvet onto the sofa on a cold wet Sunday afternoon and singing along to the best bits from The Wizard Of Oz, On The Town and Singin’ In The Rain. I am a closet fan of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, which can often startle those who only know me by my love of old punk and other noisy, aggressive artforms.
And finally, that plastic clockwork fish. Is it so wrong to find a bit of painted plastic so amusing? Yes, yes it certainly is, but I can’t help it. What fun! Time I got in the bath to try it out, so again top marks to R for knowing EXACTLY what I needed for my birthday.
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Oh, Bird! I hope I’m the first (in the blog-o-sphere, that is) to sing…
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday dear Biiirrrddd…
Happy birthday to you!
And many mooooooooore…(is that a wacky American thing??)
What a sweet post and how sweet that R is so attuned to your soul. I agree that your books and music are lovely choices, but…I WANT THAT FISH!!!
Have a wonderful day, dear!
)
Oh thank you Holly, you were DEFINITELY first in the blogosphere, and possibly the second all round to sing
Hehee, I like the “and many mooore” bit at the end, I think it might well be an American thing and a good thing at that, in fact from now on I am adopting it as the way to sing that song from now on
Awwww, and the presents… I was just so touched when I saw what he’d got me. He had to go quickly to work so he just gave me a cup of tea, a big kiss and the presents, and had to run before I could even open them. I was blown away with his choices. Oh yes, and best of all the fish is fantastic fun, it really does swim
Thank you sooo much for popping by and being lovely as ever, and sorry it took a day to reply
P.S:- just look how many little smiley faces I put in my reply… see what you did?
Holly sent me over to say ‘Happy Birthday’!! I’m so glad you’ve been given such wonderful presents!!
Hi Svasti, it’s lovely to see you here! She did what? Wow, Holly’s a real good ‘un and that’s a fact!
Good job, R!
Wishing you a very, very Happy Birthday, Bird!
Hi Kit, and thank you
You are right, R did a mighty fine job, top marks from me in fact 
A belated happy birthday Bird
Isn’t it amazingly touching when someone goes to a lot of trouble to find the right things, nice one R…I have a big soppy grin.
I had to smile at your lovely presents, just all about you
Chrissy, thank you! As far as I’m concerned no kind wish is belated
And the soppieness on the day was extreme, glad you got a smile out of it too 
Happy Belated Birthday! Oh I like Leonard Cohen myself. Thanks for sharing, Anna
Hi Anna, and thank you! Leonard Cohen is wonderful
Happy Birthday Bird ~ I’ve been so up to my eyes in my ‘real’ work that I missed this.
You romantic sentimental little thing
Best Wishes
henry
Drat, don’t you hate it when “real” work gets in the way?
And you are right Henry, I am a romantic fool, or perhaps a holy fool, or maybe even just a plain fool 
Buggers I am late!
Happy Belated Birthday
Leonard Cohen? Will have to google him….
Hi Claire! I like belated wishes, makes the day last longer… plus I’m always late for other peoples myself anyway
Leonard Cohen is renowned for being miserable in a romantic kind of way… hum, I don’t sell him very well do I?
Leonard Cohen playing in the background while you read the Snow Leopard should work perfectly. (Then, you may already know that by now).
Happy (very) belated birthday…
Hi Dr Jay! I’m saving the Snow Leopard for my Scottish Yoga adventure… the first time I’ll have ever done yoga you’ll be amused to hear