Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me… I know I haven’t posted a blog in a while but I have my excuses. I’ve had a crazy ten days. Mind you, it’s the same every year so perhaps there are no excuses…

Problem is my Christmas is closely followed by New Year and hot on the heels of that… my Birthday! That’s a whole lot of fun and almost no time to write…

I won’t bore you with exactly how old I am, suffice to say, I’ve reached a number higher than twenty-one. That said I really look forward to my Birthdays. And this last was a corker.

I received some wonderful gifts, just what I wanted and then managed to get very drunk. A most enjoyable annual tradition in my book, I only wish it could happen more than once a year.

Well the thing is, in Czech Republic, it does. For those lucky enough to qualify comes that most desirable of added extras, a SECOND birthday. Well a Name Day to be exact but it’s close enough.

In UK only the Queen is allowed to have two birthdays. They give the old dear an official one along with her real day of birth. (Well she is the Queen, there has to be some perks to the job.) One might expect this translates into double the number presents but not even her Majesty gets that. Which makes this Name Day idea altogether a better deal.

To an outsider it’s like a second Birthday. Sorry for all those traditionalists who know the truth. I’m sure there’s a religious point to it all and I will look it up one day so please don’t feel you have to enlighten me. The fact remains, you get more presents.

So, if it’s good enough for Czechs, it’s good enough for me. I decided some time ago I wanted one too. Problem is, there’s no day set aside for people named: Steen.

The closest I could find was Stepan or Stefan. Alas I feel choosing either of them would be like badly fitted false teeth. Although very similar to my own they’re not the real thing and sooner or later would start to irritate. There’s always A u g u s t yn, which at least contains my name as a sound. But again the fit is somewhat uncomfortable.

No, there really isn’t anything like Steen so the only option I have left, if I want a Name Day… I’m going to need a new name. Luckily there are a lot of good ones out there.

Norbert, June 6th. It has a nice ring to it although might make me sound like an accountant. Rudolf, April 17th. Reminiscent of that famous reindeer which is good but also a ballet dancer which ain’t me, oh no. Don’t really see myself as a Tibor or Herman. Then there’s Valentyn, 14th of February. Always thought of myself as a romantic. Or Igor, October 1st. Which I might go for if it didn’t bring to mind the hunk-back assistant of Doctor Frankenstein.

Gabriel or Gustav? Nope. Vendelin, (which sounds like a window cleaning product) or Viktor (actually there are a surprising number of V’s) Alas no…

There are many, many more but after much serious head scratching I realised none were going to work for me like; Steen. I’ve lived with it all these years and grown quite attached. My Mum christened me Steen and a Steen I shall have to stay.

Sadly I therefore must abstain from this fine Czech tradition. No Name Day for me. Mind you, since my Mum did give me such a cool jumper this year I will forgive her. Thanks Mum…