Sixteenth Birthday Party

Last night, Dot and I were invited to one of the most unusual birthday parties we have attended. Our friends, Jenny and Jim Walmsley, whom we've known for almost 40 years, invited us to Jenny's 16th birthday party. Just in case you find the maths a little odd, I should point out that yesterday was the 29th of February and that this date only occurs once every four years and, since Jenny was born in 1948, she's only managed to celebrate that event 16 times including yesterday. And since it was her 16th, Jenny decided to add 16 to 48 to come with a theme for the event - i.e 1964.

So, participants were invited to dress in 1964 gear, which unsurprisingly few managed given changes in height and shape and the time lapse involved. Some enterprising people managed to drag the right stuff by visiting op shops, as Jenny did herself. And other wore wigs with decidedly longer, and an altogether differently coloured, hair to what they have now. I must admit to going on to e-bay to see if there were any cheap Beatles style wigs around, but ran out of time to execute the idea. Still, Jenny managed to acquire a luxuriant black hairstyle as the pictures show. Jenny is the person standing, with Jim in 19602 gear standing behind her.

The party was held in a local restaurant we sometimes go to - the Red Grapevine - and we had a private room where the organisers (J & J) played 1960s music. Fortunately, presents were banned ... not a bad idea if you don't want useless presents which may be suitable for a 16 y.o. but not a grand-mother. Those attending were required to bring photos of themselves when they were about 16. These were pinned to a board along with our names so one didn't have to guess who was who. Most pictures of me about that age reside in the UK so I had to get my brother, Phillip, to scan and email a suitable image. Alas, I couldn't recognise myself, so it's just as well that Jim attached my name underneath!

J & J shouted us all a marvellous meal at presumably great cost to themselves given that there must have been 50 people on the guest list. We had some 1960s style entertainment - a group of appropriately attired singers who also danced in a coordinated way, a large birthday cake with 16 candles on it, and a large amount of champagne, wine and other beverages. All up the event lasted 4 hours amidst deafening chatter as we tried to catch up with the careers and/or retirement activities of old friends.

AS