Snow can't dampen birthday celebrations

It's never convenient when the snow arrives, but when it chooses to dump on us on Major Darling's birthday, starting just as they are all leaving the house in their 'gladrags', that is a bit unfair.

A couple of inches later and our faith in Southwest Trains being able to run a normal service to get them home was not too great. 

The Chief kindly set off to rendezvous at the bar, but first I insisted we packed the car with emergency supplies!  I think that perhaps the warnings by the AA, about making sure you were prepared when making a journey in the snow were aimed at people taking the car down country lanes or long motorway trips, not Central London!  Nevertheless, I put together a bag of walking boots and thick socks, if they broke down the delicate party shoes would be no good for walking! The partygoers were also amused to find a pile of fleecey blankets in the car and a bag of water, chocolate biscuits, a hot thermos and a selection of coffee, hot chocolate and soup sachets! Can you imagine what I would have packed if it really was a cross country route?

They were so grateful for the warm car journey home.  It was only a couple of inches of snow, but the buses stopped early and some friends had a two hour walk to get home to south London.  That is no way to end birthday celebrations.

As usual, I couldn’t help trying to be adventurous with a birthday cake and the oversized sparkling blue handbag caused much amusement!  I think 25 candles is the absolute limit when trying to walk into a room, I felt as though I was behind an inferno and seeing the photos today, it looks like I am about to have a serious fire issue in front of me.

 I don’t know how we managed to light 80 candles on my father’s birthday so many years ago and that was with a gathering of our little toddler Darlings all around.  I think you start to see more danger as age creeps up.  I often make a mental note to stop myself from saying ‘Be careful’ too frequently.