Chapter 26, in which j4 gets older

[j4]

It's that time of year again. I will be celebrating my birthday, or at least using it as an excuse to talk to people and drink nice beer:

Date: 8th May 2004 Place: The Carlton Arms Time: I'll be there from 5pm onwards (and we have an extension, so that's quite a lot of "onwards")

Other info:

We're playing the 'private party' aspect by ear (because the people who run the Carlton are cool like that); if the weather's nice and everybody ends up outside anyway then there will be no point in making it 'private'.

The pub serves food. If enough people look like they're going to be coming, I will probably try to organise some sort of buffet as well.

Please let me know if you're planning on coming. Really, I know RSVPs are boring, and I know I'm dreadful at doing them, but please do. :)

There will be some bedspace/crashspace available but we don't have as much of it as we used to. Ask if you need it.

Feel free (but not obliged) to bring partner(s), friends, siblings, badgers, etc. Especially badgers.

I already know some people can't make this date, & I'm sorry; I'm not trying to exclude you, but this is literally the only date in May that I can do!

Email if you need more information.

Comments

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

Argh! I cannot attend - I am having a mother come to stay that day. I was emailed and told about this yesterday. I have to figure out how to pick her up from Heathrow. Argh!

[j4.livejournal.com]

Oh, arse. I'm sorry. :-(

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

You do not be sorry - you do not be my slightly dim father. I told him the only airport I can get to is City, but he probably forgot.

[karen2205]

Could you let your mother make her own way to central London and then meet her outside the nearest tube station?

Heathrow - London can be done via the Picadilly line, the Heathrow Express (train service to Paddington), bus or taxi.

The Heathrow Express is easy to get to from the terminal eg. there are lifts and no steps onto the train - so she ought to be able to manage that if she doesn't have too much luggage. The tube'd be a bit more tricky for her, but still doable unless she's really laden with bags - or you could make your way to Paddington and meet her there - I'm sure that's doable by bus.

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

I know how to get to Heathrow - I just don't think that I can, and I'm fairly sure that she'll want to be met in the airport.

[daneel-olivaw.livejournal.com]

There are lifts from the Heathrow Express platforms to ground level, if that helps?

[taimatsu]

I probably won't be able to come, because that's *my* birthday, and I will either be having a picnic or a dinner with boyfriend in Reading or spending time with my family in London. But I hope it goes well :)

[j4.livejournal.com]

I guessed it might end up clashing, but it was kind of unavoidable -- sorry! Hope you have fun whatever you decide to do. *hugs*

[angua.livejournal.com]

I'll be there :)

I don't know about badgers though.. if you bring any to my BBQ then I'll bring them to the pub instead.

[beingjdc.livejournal.com]

Ooh, maybe. Diary issues are complicated.

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

Is there a dress code?

[j4.livejournal.com]

Yes. You have to wear a dress. :)

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

Would a djellaba do?

[j4.livejournal.com]

If you like. Though I was kind of hoping you'd wear the leather trousers...

Argh, what am I going to wear? I'd better start thinking about it now, or I'll be late!

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Alas, we three will be in Stuttgart (return on the 9th). Never mind... we'll see you in June instead.

[mpinna.livejournal.com]

Afraid I won't be able to make it as I'm out of town that weekend. Hope you have a good one anyway!

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

Darnation - this is the third party that I've been invited to on the 8th. Have a good time with all of your badgers ...

[littleangel-103.livejournal.com]

Damn and botheration! I am meant to be auditioning for my play that day. And then have agreed to go to party with t'other 'alf.

[simont]

My calendar says I can make it, so I expect to be there :-)

[k425.livejournal.com]

We can't attend, but hope you have a lovely badgery day.

[timeplease.livejournal.com]

Will do my best to make it, but it depends on staff at the Oakdale.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

I'll do my best, and this will almost certainly mean I'll be there for at least some of it. Partners, hangers on and badgers; do you mind if one of the hangers on is Benedict?

[j4.livejournal.com]

Of course I don't mind! Particularly if he brings invisible badgers. :)

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

The only invisible badgers he's ever mentioned are the ones he still appears to believe follow you around.

[lnr]

Count me in!

[juggzy.livejournal.com]

I'd love to make it, but suspect that I will be busy doing work type things - although I could take the Saturday afternoon off, I'd still need to work on the Sunday. Sorry, it would have been lovely to catch up with some of the Cambridge lot.

[j4.livejournal.com]

If you want to come over on the Saturday afternoon, I could make the noble gesture of Getting To The Pub Earlier just for you. :)

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

A pre-party (http://www.livejournal.com/users/nja/15187.html?thread=26195#t26195) party?

Looks awfully like a plan to me...

[nja.livejournal.com]

I'm free.

AA route planner:
Me: I want to go from Leicester to Cambridge
Website: So you want to go from Leicester to Cambridge?
Me: YES.
Website: That's Leicester, Leics to Cambridge, Cambs?
Me: I SAID YES DIDN'T I?

(I know there's another Cambridge, but couldn't it have given me the option on the second page?)

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's a Cunning Plan to keep Leicester people in Leicester?

[juggzy.livejournal.com]

Oh, grrrr, pressure. Help. It's like this: I like to drink. I especially like to drink if I have had to drive for two hours. Suprisingly, unexpectedly, and quite rewardingly, some of the elevens are actually getting their holiday papers in . And demanding more to do. So I am up to my ears in marking already, and its likely to get worse before I loose them to the actual examination session. So, if I came, I would do an overnighter somewhere, at a B&B probably, but would then lose valuable marking time the next day.

Don't make me feel guilty!

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

huskyteer and I have theatre tickets booked, alas. I promise to think of you on my birthday.

[j4.livejournal.com]

I told you when you came to visit that my party would be that weekend, and you said you'd keep it free! Tchah. Men.

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

I didn't book the tickets. More than my life's worth, mate...

[bjh21.livejournal.com]

That's my birthday, and I haven't got anything better planned, so I suspect I shall be there at some point.

[emperor]

I will probably be there. atreic probably won't, as she has much maths to do.