‘It was a choice between dread or self-pity’: Nigella Lawson reveals why she banned cake, presents and singing on her 50th birthday
Nigella Lawson banned presents, singing and cake at her 50th birthday.
The British celebrity cook, now aged 60, revealed how her heartbreaking history has marred the concept of birthdays for her.
Ten years on from the momentous occasion, Nigella penned in the Weekend Australian her recollection of how she chose between ‘dread’ and ‘self-pity’ when deciding what to do on the day.
‘It was a choice between dread or self-pity’: On Sunday, Nigella Lawson (pictured) revealed why she banned cake, presents and singing on her 50th birthday
Nigella explained three of her family members died from cancer: her mother Vanessa at 48, her sister Thomasina at 32 and her first husband John Diamond at 47.
‘It is a curious thing to be so significantly outstripping them in years,’ she wrote.
Despite telling the UK Telegraph in 2012 her her mother had been physically abusive to her throughout her childhood, she struggled the most with her 49th birthday, because her ‘mother never made it to hers’.
Past: Now 60 years old, Nigella explained three of her family members died from cancer, including sister Thomasina and mother Vanessa (both pictured) which marred her later birthdays. Also pictured: Nigella, five, alongside her father Lord Lawson Of Blaby in 1965
In comparison, the celebrated baker felt her 50th birthday was a ‘doddle’ and elected to have a last minute dinner party.
‘I didn’t know that I wanted one, but I came to the conclusion that it was a choice between dread or self-pity. And really, anything is better than self-pity,’ Nigella wrote.
But while she hosted a dinner, Nigella banned presents, speeches, singing and even cake, as she felt it ‘would have sent a rather mixed message’.
Strange feeling: While she hosted a dinner, Nigella banned presents, speeches, singing and even cake. She felt it ‘would have sent a rather mixed message’ as she had outlived so many of her relatives
‘I think I was rather relieved no longer to be 49, the age that made me a traitor to my mother,’ she said.
She went on to explain she always thinks of her mother whenever she sees or reads that a woman is 48 years old.
Nigella has two children with with her first husband John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001: Cosima, 26, and Bruno, 23.
Tragedy: Nigella has two children with with her first husband John Diamond (pictured left), who died of throat cancer in 2001: Cosima, 26, and Bruno, 23