Out of the way

Sometimes I have big parties for my birthday. When I turned 35 a couple of years ago I invited a bunch of people and had a long party on a Friday night. More recently I turned 37. I had dinner with my father and Miel the night before, which was nice, because I haven't had a birthday with Dad for many years, and it is the first time Eva and I have been together on my birthday (or even the night before).

On the day, I had a quiet dinner. Jim made a roast, which was perfect - lamb and various vegetables gravy, etc etc. (He bought mint sauce, but since he had to try and find something on a Sunday, that's a reasonable thing to have done). Other than that, we had a few quiet pints, watched the river go past, and didn't do very much - and it was a very pleasant day.

It was also Eva's birthday a week (and a day) later, so we were together again, along with friends of hers from the States. We had a bit more of a party - drinks at N del T, lunch and the JonDa, but work in the afternoon. And a siestita, of course. And work

For the next few years I will have midweek birthdays - if I am not confused I will turn 40 on a Thursday night. Maybe that's a good reason to have a long weekend party, starting early... or maybe it is a good reminder that I am no longer 22, and should not go out partying too often and too late.

Meanwhile, I went to another party last night. And for the first time in Norway, I got to play Cricket. Minch and Else share a birthday, and he had invited me... just a little barbie, and a few beers. I like it when Australians say that, since it seems to mean "there is no fear of running out".

We got a bunch of people down to the park with some stumps and a bat and rubber ball. It was not really a well-nurtured pitch, but nor was it a first-class team. In fact, the team I used to play in once a year, who inevitably got beaten in their annual match against the pub, would have had no dificulty disposing of this particular outfit. But it was fun, and a little exercise. And it justifies the cricket set I bought two years ago, and hadn't managed to use before.