The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]


The Birthdays Covid Took Away …
June 10, 2021, 8:00 am
Filed under: Attitude & Aptitude, Birthday, Jill, New Zealand, Otis, Paul

So I’m not here today.

Or tomorrow.

Or Monday.

Or Tuesday.

Or even Wednesday.

I know … I’ve been at Colenso 5 minutes, and I’m already taking some time off. But you see, it’s my birthday Saturday. Then Jill’s on Tuesday and Paul’s on Wednesday and I want to put in the energy into them that Covid took away.

My birthday last year was a weird one.

The good bit was that I got to be with my beloved family – and Paul and Shelly made a surprise visit [that I know absolutely won’t be happening this year] – and my old, wonderful team at R/GA got me a goat for a present [really!] … but it still was very different to what had been planned.

We were planning on all going to Spain.

Having a party by the sea.

And while what I ended up having was lovely and special … it wasn’t in Spain or by the sea.

What also made my birthday reality even more different to the original plan was when I received an SMS from a couple of the senior management at work asking me to immediately deal with a pretty shitty situation.

Despite knowing I was on holiday and knowing it was my birthday, they still asked me to deal with something of their own making that – to make matters worse – could have been dealt with weeks earlier or days later.

But even that couldn’t ruin the day and given it’s been a year since that happened – and only good has occurred since then – I want to make sure this birthday is one where we celebrate it with all the attention, compassion and focus we wished for that original day.

Of course it won’t be exactly the same – especially as we’re now living in NZ whereas Paul is in the UK – but it is going to be one where we get to celebrate all being in a happier, healthier, more enjoyable and fulfilling place and as birthday presents go, that’s almost as good as getting a video from ‘the Hoff’.

So to me. My wonderful, brilliant, beautiful wife. And my best, best friend in the whole wide world. Happy, happy birthday.

Here’s to us and to you.

You make every moment and every birthday worthwhile.

I hope we will all be together again soon.

Love you all.


19 Comments so far
Leave a comment

it must fucking kill you campbell to have a second year where you cant rinse lee for fucking freebies.

Comment by andy@cynic

He will just expect 3 years worth of gift next year.

Comment by DH

I will be waiting Robert. Happy birthday to you and Jill.

Comment by Lee Hill

I’m drawing up a list now Lee.

Comment by Rob

hes not fucking joking either.

Comment by andy@cynic

and youre a soppy fuck.

Comment by andy@cynic

Another year of blatant gift seeking. Nice to know covid hasn’t changed your blagging abilities.

Comment by Bazza

HAPPY BIRTHDAY……AND MANY,MAY,MANY MORE!

Comment by Patricia Brown

Thank you so so much. Especially regarding the ‘many, many, many more’.

Comment by Rob

dont worry campbell, youre the cockroach of adland. youll outlive us all till youve fucked over our dreams.

Comment by andy@cynic

What a year you’ve had Robert. Keeps getting better and better for you. While some here would claim it is luck or a deal with satan, you’ve earned it. Happy birthday to you, Jill and Paul.

Comment by George

crawly fuck.

Comment by andy@cynic

Wait for George to claim that’s my birthday present. Haha.

Comment by Rob

The hoff video was your best work of the year. For best, read bastardness.

Comment by DH

Bastardness? I’ve done waaaaaaaaay more bastardness than that. Hell, I’ve done more bastardness than that, today!

Comment by Rob

what the fuck is wrong with you dave?

Comment by andy@cynic

Covid has messed with my head.

Comment by DH

Are you back yet?

Comment by Bazza

Tomorrow. TOMORROW.

Comment by Rob




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