Roslin Isabelle is my niece. My only real, proper niece. So far anyway. She is every inch a little girl. She loves pink. She loves tiaras and dresses and Disney princesses. And she turned 7 last week.

Roslin to her school friends; with family she answers to Belly, or Bellybutton, or Button, or Isabelle.

Her name came from the novel The Da Vinci Code. Roslin Castle in Scotland and neighbouring Rosslyn Chapel played a pivotal role in the search for the Holy Grail. I think my sister was reading the book at the time when she was due to deliver her daughter.

The family celebrated her birthday with dinner at Ponderosa. My brother brought egg-free brownie cupcakes with fondant shaped into Disney characters. Granted they were a bit wonky and some look downright freaky, but everyone had their fill of dinner so most of the cupcakes went home with the birthday girl.

There are two more birthdays to go before the year is over. Assuming the world doesn’t end on the 21st!