h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thank you, everyone. We just went for a meal - me and all my children and my husband and the boys' girlfriends. So I didn't get drunk, although the two choirs I was in on that day did open the bubbly for me.

Were you really in two choirs or did it only look like that?

Well here's to your continued singing vigour!

Happy Birthday, TC!

Thank you, sunny.

Yes. I was sort of in 2 choirs on that day. The local church choir I am in was due to sing at what they call the "Großes Gebet". That is a kind of vigil that goes through the diocese and each parish has a Sunday where they hold services and prayers practically all day. At 5 pm we sang in the final service to round it off.

This coincided with the reunion of the choir which I was in in July when we sang the Vivaldi. It was a jolly afternoon of boozing, watching the DVD of the concert which they had finally finished, playing Orff Instruments and being told what the project for next year is.

When we arrived, most people had left, but we spoke to a few people (I was with a friend who is also in both choirs) and ordered our DVDs and established that next year they shall be putting on Carmina Burana. To me, this is still the equivalent of performing in a porn film, but maybe I shall go along because I like the people.

Then we had 40 minutes to kill in town, so my friend and I went to the restaurant I had chosen to go to for a celebratory meal with the family and had a sherry (it's a Spanish restaurant).

And now I'll tell you about our party. It was a great success.

Patrick and I had invited loads of people each (him for his 21st which was on that day, and me for my 50th, which I have spread over a week now - time to bury it I think!)

We forgot to ask for RSVPs, and couldn't even remember who we'd invited (like mother like son).

The next morning we sat and wrote a list. We counted 73 people, including family.

The kids did up the cellar bar and did all sorts of interesting things down there. The buffet (200 open sandwiches) was in the dining room. The "adults" were in the lounge and conservatory.

At no time was it cramped.

My dishwasher conked out a few days before and I couldn't get anyone to come and see to it before Monday. (today) So I rang a young colleague and asked her if she'd like to earn a bit of money by washing glasses, pouring drinks etc. She said she would, and brought an experienced friend. They had a whale of a time, especially as the kids (who are all around the same age as my colleague - 20 - 25) often congregated in the kitchen to eat, sing and talk and tell jokes.

I had loads of great CDs ready. During the first "party compilation" one of my sons came in and said "How come you're listening to 90s music up here and we're playing stuff from the 70s downstairs?"

However, we played just about one and a half CDs and then got out the piano, accordeon, guitars and whatever people had brought with them .. er, well, that was it actually - 3 guitars, though. Oh, and a violin.

And we sang and talked and made our own noises until 3.30 am.

They must have enjoyed it or they wouldn't have stayed so long.

Nearly all the rolls went - there was loads of booze left.

So anyone who has changed their mind can still come round for some - the local sort I'm always plugging here: Dornfelder - and we'll have an H2G2 meet in the Palatinate.

And the most amazing thing was that, although I had invited people from lots of different groups - there were several links between different people of each group. The most amazing coincidence was that the colleague I had asked to help in the kitchen had gone to school with Patrick's girlfriend.

Small

Sounds good! Just the kind of party . . .

We'll kill off your birthday good and proper on the 8th of January

Couldn't agree with you more about Orff. Wonderful educator, shame about the Carmina.

Sounds like an Irish party! Pity I missed it.