7 Ways To Celebrate Your Birthday With Friends While in Self Isolation

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The Coronavirus has been playing havoc with people's birthday celebrations as restaurants and bars close and friends are forced to self isolate away from each other.



But with technology and some of our exciting ideas, it means you can still manage to have a birthday party of kinds with you best mates and extended family.

Here are a few ideas on how to enjoy your birthday even if you are self-isolating.
1.Cocktail-making night

Get out the cocktail shakers, find the best party soundtrack and put on your going out gear for a fun birthday celebration. Why not follow it up by watching the Tom Cruise film Cocktail at the end of the evening?

Link up with your friends over video or messenger platforms as you each mix up the same cocktail or try out a variety at the same time.

If you need some recipes to get you going, Andrey Kornilov - head bartender of Moscow's most Instagram-able bar collection SIDR - is sharing easy-to-follow cocktail recipes and there are two listed below.



Sparkling Coconut cocktail recipe

Ingredients:
40 ml coconut liqueur
30 ml lemongrass syrup
10 ml absinthe
130 ml sparkling wine

Method:
In a glass, mix the liqueur, syrup and absinthe with some ice. Pour into a cocktail glass without ice and top up with the sparkling wine.



Fruit Gin

Ingredients:
60 ml gin
20 ml lemon juice
30 ml pineapple juice
30 ml melon liqueur
10 ml passion fruit syrup

Method:
Put all the ingredients in a shaker. Add ice. Mix and pour into a highball with extra ice.



2. Do a virtual pub quiz

Set up your own quiz night with friends over video platforms like Zoom, Whatsapp or House Party or make a date with one of the many quiz nights circulating on Facebook live.



If you are creating one between friends, choose between one quizmaster or each household team doing a round in-turn on various themes - and then compile all the points.

Think up team names and make the questions as bizarre as you like. You could even base them on TV game shows and have fancy dress themes for the event.

And as well as toasting the winner, remember to say cheers to the birthday girl/boy too.
3. A night at the theatre

The National Theatre, the Bolshoi Ballet and the Royal Shakespeare Company are just some of the well-known worldwide theatres that are screening previously recorded performances to enjoy from your home.

Put a date in your diary, get dressed up, catch up over video or messages for a pre-theatre drink and show off your outfits. If you are just doing it within your household, why not add on a candle-lit dinner before the show with dessert at the interval.



Then dim down the lights and be enchanted by the magic of theatre - and maybe even an ice cream or drink during the interval.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the latest to add his musicals to live screening events on his recently launched YouTube channel The Shows Must Go On.

There is also the YouTube channel for The National Theatre showing screenings to the world.

Or you can subscribe to Marquee TV which is streaming various worldwide theatre productions including the Olivier Award-winning opera production of The Royal Opera's Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci on Saturday April 18 and the Bolshoi, with many more planned for May and beyond.
4. Darts tournament

Hit the bullseye with a game of darts over video. Make sure everyone has set up a board at each household and then take turns over apps including House Party or Zoom.

If you need help counting down to zero, there's the Russ Bray darts scorer app from the "voice of darts", which takes care of the scoring for you.



Set up a league, play Killer, Round The Clock or do a regular game of 501 to bring a sporty element to your celebrations.

You can even each pick walk-on music so each player can make their grand entrance for a night of fun.
5. Spa day at home

Get out the face masks from the back of the drawer, line-up the nail varnishes and snuggle into a bathrobe for a chill out with friends online.



Chatter over video or phone link as you relax through the day and gossip while browsing magazines.

Leave it to a vote among friends on which nail varnish colour to wear, dare to try out new styles and even join in an online meditation or yoga class or app together. There's plenty to choose from including Calm.

For yoga, Hannah Barrett shares tips and moves on her Instagram and Youtube sites and you can find out more at the Hannah Barrett Yoga website here .



If you are a couple, why not recreate a spa and give each other massages.

Just because you are in lockdown, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on some quality time together and beautify yourself in the process.

6. Viva Las Vegas

Make your own interactive casino night using a toy roulette wheel and a pack of cards.

Bring the glitz and glamour of Vegas to your home and take bets by video link for roulette or black jack as you take turns to be the croupier.



Dress up in your tuxedo and the most glamorous of dresses, pour out some cocktails and put on a soundtrack of the Rat Pack to bring the Frank Sinatra Vegas heyday back to life.

When the chips are down, you'll always have virtual vegas to remember from your birthday celebrations.
7. And don't forget - send a (virtual) birthday card

It wouldn't be a birthday without being sung happy birthday or getting a card.

If it's your friend's birthday, surprise them by organising a joint video call with your mates so you can all sing happy birthday at the same time from your homes.



If you can't get out the house to a post office, there are e-cards you can send including from Blue Mountain or 123.cards.com to name a few.

Or you could personalise a photo and have a go at your own digital craftwork on your phone or via Facebook.

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