My 40th birthday party

Forty friends and /or colleagues (including 14 children) attended the 40th birthday party that wasn't meant to occur last night. I invited everyone from work because of cause it is rude to not invite someone.. but thankfully only the lovelies came. I wasn't going to have a party - it was one of those things thrust upon me that I didn't back out of ... and hosted at a girlfriends house because APPARENTLY some of my friends don't approve of my dogs and their... manners (which are impeccable). But my friends home is definitely more party friendly than mine.... and the gesture breathtaking that people will do these things for me.

My friend (and boss actually) said NO CHILDREN OTHER THAN YOURS AND MINE... and I had to beg for some children to be allowed to attend. For as long as I have lived here - those children and our celebrations have been together and the thought of having a celebration without them wasn't very appealing to me.

Photographs can be so bloody awful - Kelly's face is actually gorgeous - that is just one of those moments.My daughter Anna trying to get the cake on the plate... with Madison (her long time friend and someone I just know to expect to be around) and me....

I think I am probably opening a present or simply enamoured with whatever I am drinking with this photo. I gave the camera to Mitchell aged 12 and asked him to take photos. We had heaps of ceilings and single balloons.

My youngest daughter Jane is handing me presents to open and Madison in the background... my partner (aka MOTH - Christian with his back to us) our friends Keiran and Christian in the background.

Hope and me and the .... cold brutality of photographs when one is drinking ....

These ladies are my workmates. Jill in the purple is always good fun and amusing. MOTH bought me a pinata...a lime green dragon that we filled with lollies for the children. Hmm... the children who are all growing so big now. It was lovely looking at the children that came... from toddlers to smart children, from children to teenagers...

However - we all know pinatas should be approached from smallest child to biggest - two strikes each etc...... Jill watched one child swing and decided she wanted a go - completely misunderstood the two strikes per person rule and just flogged the poor little thing till it exploded. The children didn't mind - they just wanted the lollies. Mitchell came and found me shortly after to offer me the half of his loot find... how beautiful?

I guess I posted this picture to show food or something? See the cake? Simona made that for me. I play trivia with her on Wednesday evenings and she offered to make me the cake. It was beautiful. Strawberries in every layer.

The kids amused themselves while the adults made merry. They fought with the balloons and played on Playstation 2 singstar.

I think that game is called throwing the Morgan or something. No kid came to an adult crying so all was good.

Shortly after the next photograph the adults pushed the kids off the singstar and proceeded to make idiots of themselves... with much joviality and some utter rudeness. It was wonderful. I took a nap.

My new friend Andrea (on the right) and my long time friend Hope got on like they had known each other for ever. I have only known Andrea properly a short time (she is the friend who bought me cake and a gift and card after that awful incident at work when I had to take the blame for the small child that was scratched and bitten)

Behind the girls is the banners and streamers Joy bought me while I was at the Gold Coast last weekend. She rang me yesterday and I had to use her voice for a little while to help me calm down. It worked.. it always does.

I fret about stuff like... will everyone be happy. Will everyone be fed?

I will add a small childhood story from my life.

It was my birthday and I would of been only 11 Iuess. My parents divorced in 1977 and I was quite saddened by this occurrence. We had moved house, and my mother had a boyfriend and we shared the house with a lady who was ok... usually. I asked my mother if I could have a party and she said yes... and stupid me invited my friends. My Mama was most likely suffering from depression but I was a stupid kid who didn't think about anything other than how wonderful it would be to have a party. When my friends arrived... Mama had made a cake but didn't ice it and all we had to drink was cordial. That was it. Nothing else. I used bravado to act like it was all fine. I remember my heart pacing and my fear and horror. And kids are nasty.

The next day at school... one person led the way but two followed to ask for the return of their gifts. I felt utterly humiliated. I gave them back the gifts. I don't think my mother ever even noticed. I told myself it was my fault for being so greedy to think I could have a proper party. I then ruined my brothers birthday party.... insisting on pass the parcels with old crap we had owned and games...because I so wanted his to be nice.....

I was bossy and horrible and told all his friends they were not getting their presents back.

In the cold light of day... I didn't run out of food or booze. The night was wonderful. I have good friends and I love life.. I am very lucky.