Family Affairs and other matters

Total white out in London yesterday. Just beautiful. We were meant to welcome our friends home from Australia for Christmas last night at an impromptu curry evening. There we all were waiting for them to arrive from the airport when she called. “We’re in Iceland” she said. Planes all diverted. Something rather surreal about being diverted to Iceland because there is too much snow here.

The party my son was planning to drive to got cancelled in Portsmouth which was a huge relief. Couldn’t bear the thought of all those teenagers driving in those conditions. Especially because I was already hugely relieved to find him alive and at home on Saturday morning after what they considered to be the best 18th party ever on Friday night. A large house in London that was being renovated. Therefore empty. An “American Pie” theme. A room full of cushions and Shisha. A smoking area. Six kegs of beer each containing 88 pints. Thirty large bottles of vodka. Tables for “beer pong” (don’t ask) and 160 kids up for it. Many parents dreading it.

Having spent years protecting my children from each and every danger imaginable, it is quite daunting when you have to step back from that and let them make their own mistakes. Of course I did try lecturing my son on how not to drink too much just because it’s on tap and free, but frankly I’m not the best role model when it comes to not overdoing it at parties – all I said to them, in the end, as they walked out the door was “don’t die”.

Wandering about yesterday, I came across this little chap being pulled along. Firmly wedged into a washing up bowl. That will be a good one to bring out for his 18th birthday party.