Today I am going to 2 birthday parties. I don't get invited to many these days, although I am hoping that this might be the start of a new craze. As I am approaching my 50th birthday, many of my friends are doing likewise. There may be a few more parties on the horizon.
I had a great party for my 40th, or at least I enjoyed it. It was in the local working men's club, not the most salubrious of venues, but it is big with a dance floor, plenty of tables and chairs and cheap drinks. The bar staff were very miserable, but we had a good DJ and I loved the run up to it, writing a big long list of songs to be included, planning the food and invitations. The disco was organised by an old friend, who was the connection between me and the DJ, I think she was friends with his mum. I included quite a few of my favourite Northern Soul tracks on my list. I love Northern Soul, but I am not keen on the rare stuff. I like the real stompers, not the dull old mid temp slow and dull stuff that might have been sung by the Andrews sisters or Gilbert O'Sullivan. My friend is a self professed music snob and I have a feeling that she may have doctored my list as my favourites (which are probably the Northern Soul equivalents of The Birdy Song and Oops upside your head) did not feature on the night.
In spite of this, I did spend most of the night on the dance floor, monopolising one or two friends who were also in the mood for dancing. And I didn't spend much time at all with my kids, or old friends who had travelled miles to see me. Just on the dance floor. I still feel bad about this. But I did have such a fantastic night. I probably prefer other peoples' parties, on reflection, where there is no pressure or expectation of me doing anything but dancing.
I had asked my elder sister to make me a birthday cake, and she brought it along to the club. It was a beauty (she makes amazing cakes), with Maltesers and thick chocolate icing. It got to the end of the night, the DJ started packing up, the lights came on and my eldest niece called me over to a table, to remind me about my cake. She picked it up, (she may have had a couple of drinks) and it slid backwards out of her hands, landing face down on one of the furry dusty old seats. She looked like she was about to cry, and everyone gasped. And then we all howled with laughter, for a very long time. And when I woke up the next morning, looking like death on a plate, I laughed some more. It was the perfect end to a perfect night.
The parties today will be lovely. At lunchtime, we are going to the first birthday party of my youngest great niece, who is one today. I can't believe she is one, it feels like she has always been here. It's also in a working men's club, and will be a happy and jolly affair, with lots of kids and multi generations of relatives. And then this evening, we have been invited to a meal in a nice restaurant in Rothwell, to celebrate the 50th birthday of my very good friend, Old Mo. We worked together for many years, and she taught me how to mix paint, cover display boards, and get blood out of school uniform, and so many other essential skills. Without her my early days in Nursery would have been hell, and not nearly as much fun. She is one of L's fairy godmothers, although I doubt they could pick each other out from a police line up these days. Mental note - must get L and fairy godmothers together soon, in case they are ever called upon to take her on. Although, on second thoughts, perhaps they would be more likely to want to take on the orphaned banshee if they hadn't met her. Mmmm, will have a think about that one.
I am hoping for a fun filled happy day, celebrating the birthdays of two people who are very dear to me, and to wish them many happy returns.
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