It is a well known fact that every time I attempt a big party for a big birthday it goes wrong. Please do not panic. This is not a reminder at all. It was a few weeks ago no fuss no fuss!
My 18th was spent traipsing round London trying to find accommodation before University started. The upside was the continuing long lasting friendship with my landlady. CJ. She welcomed this bedraggled rainsoaked ragamuffin. The interview went like this

CJ: come in have a gin and tonic

Me: Yes!

We still chatter and meet and sip to this day. Very very awesome.
My 21st I met my parents at Heathrow feeling queasy on account of the party the night before. Of which I now have no recollection!
My 30th was simply not a time to celebrate. It was the 90’s. Totally horrendous, sad time. Unbelievable to recall now, the virus at the time was HIV/Aids. A time of government announcements reminding the population to practice safe sex ( ironic that now it is safe six). We were bombarded with condom adverts and public information footage of graveyards and grim reapers. In fact we thought the world was about to collapse, everyone was affected everyone would die. As some of you know we spent this time supporting dying relatives and friends. Arranging funerals and learning about death certificates wills and executors. A stark growing up decade for us. The upside of that was welcoming into our family our HIV orphan nephew. His is another story. But as you probably imagine he is amazing.
My 40th we did indeed have a joint hog roast party. It was actually lovely. But, you are waiting for…BUT soon after we found ourselves having to move house fast, sell assets and recover business assets. A rubbish tense time but there was of course an upside! The way we persuaded the children that our new house would be totally ok, was to promise them a pizza delivery. Not a facility they had experienced before. First night in our new home. We sat in the garden on the furniture that would not fit into the house, Dominos did a sterling job and 4 small children were extremely happy!
Then my 50th, I spent at home wrestling a tangle of catheter tubes as the first of the operations to right a wrong had begun. It was this birthday that some of my friends and I sat round the firepit one night. I need to empty a pee bag . JES promptly passed me an empty wine bottle. I emptied the bag into it and to this day have no idea if anyone either saw it, or indeed, god forbid drank it!
A few weeks ago at the start of September, my 60th was to be so exciting. The hog roast, the tipi, the pizza van, the Lumineers tribute band. ( sorry)!Everything was booked, last year. Alas, of course, Covid struck and everything was cancelled. Everything, even a special trip to celebrate in France too. However, and of course you are predicting a good outcome. To my utter amazement the children surprised me with a bell tent, a pizza delivery, breakfast bakery, movie via projector in the tent, fireworks, firepit , games, prizes…oh my days what a weekend that was. Loved it.

It is then, a difficult time this dam pandemic. Boris has lost it for me. Go to work. Stay at home. Eat out. Don’t drink after 10.00. on and on and on…as for safe six don’t get me started. 
But somehow we will get through all this. Believe me, we will. You me us….humour and optimism. Let’s work on how to meet in the rain or snow at 2 m radii and in groups of 5 more than the number you first thought of. a sort of 2m distancing venn diagram of laughter and cheer. Oh yes we can.
Keep smiling.

Next time I will fill you in on events since last I attended the safe-STD-condom -shop now-covid -interrogation- kiosk to see Dr Micro. Hand surgery stitches, catheters and bonkers bladders. Jerome has been incredible. Sorting, taking action.

Remind me to explain how the gp surgery has refused to supply my latest prescriptions and how I have spent since 13.00 today ie 4 hours on the phone to them. Hence sat at my laptop phone on loud and typing this! trying to get it sorted. I still havent. Long story warning! .I will write that tomorrow.