Tuesday 15 December 2009

Last minute dot com 'r' us...

So it's Boy #2's birthday soon. We hadn't really given it much thought (other than to organise presents, obviously), and I hadn't even considered having a party other than to think that it probably wouldn't happen as we will just have arrived in Moscow at the time.

But then the fact that he's been discussing his party since his brother's extravaganza at Gambado in September, dropping not so much subtle hints as great big suitcases full expectations of fun and cake, started to sink in.

Unfortunately this gives us something of a problem as his birthday neatly coincides with our arrival in Moscow, which whilst it will make for some picturesque snowy photo opps, also means we'll be a little short on a) somewhere to have a party b) guests to invite to it c) suitable supplies to serve at it.

So then we decided; a simple, low-key, understated party at home, nursery friends only, before we leave London.

Obviously, that's not how it's working out. At all...


Realisation #1: Half our stuff will be in boxes by the date of the party, and the other half will (god willing) already have left for Moscow. Hardly the best time to invite 15 rising 4 year-olds and their assorted hangers-on into your home.

Climb-down #1: We booked the church hall down the road.

(But I was definite; sandwiches only, and no entertainer. What's wrong with British Bulldogs and Pass the Parcel, for goodness' sake?)

Realisation #2: Well, if we're booking this church hall, why does it just have to be nursery friends? Especially since, being international jet-set types most of them will already have left for Christmas in their country of origin by then?

Climb-down #2: OK, let's invite kids of friends, too.

Realisation #3: When are we going to see our friends to say goodbye?

Climb-down #3: Hell, why not invite the whole family and kill two birds with one stone whilst we're at it?

Realisation #4: Better serve the adults something to drink too, I suppose. Can't just give them Ribena and the children's party food (which, by the way, was Climb-down 1.5; since they have an oven at the church hall there, let's serve sausages in bread rolls - isn't that simpler than making 20 lots of sandwiches?).

Climb-down #4; I'll do some mulled wine; it's Christmas, after all! (And I do like a warming drink on a cold day...)

Realisation #5: If I'm doing mulled wine, mince pies (what's Christmas without them?), sausages in buns for the kids, and trying to say goodbye to our friends pre-Moscow departure, when are we going to have time to organise the children to play Pass the Parcel and British Bulldogs?

Climb-down 5: It turns out that the only good thing about holding a party so close to Christmas - when most of the kids in the area have left the building - is that you can book pretty much any entertainer you like. Which is nice...


And whilst I have categorised this as a series of 'climb-downs' above, I prefer to see the whole event as a triumph of multi-tasking... Humour me. Please?

10 comments:

  1. There might be climb downs or alternatively your inner super party host coming out - sounds like a great party to say goodbye to London for the while

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  2. Definitely a triumph to organise anything amongst Christmas and moving. All you need now is to get friends to bring the food and drink and you'll have organised a dead cheap party too.

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  3. Suggest following advice given to me by cousin many years ago: ensure you have very stiff dry martini (or similar) before the event kicks off so you can cope with children's antics, meddlesome parents and teary friends and family and what-not.

    By the time it starts to wear off it will be closing time and you will be ready for bed.

    LCM x

    p.s. and PAY for someone else to clean up!!

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  4. I'm just very impressed that you haven't had a complete meltdown already.

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  5. I'd hardly got past the first line when I was thinking you should have a going away/birthday party before you leave. And definitely with an entertainer because you'll be frazzled without time to do anything. On which note, tell all your friends to bring some food as well as drink and all you'll have to do is put out some bread.
    If only.
    Good luck, have fun! Can we all come?

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  6. I think it sounds great! And Boy #2 will think it is the best party ever.

    But I hadn't realised you were going so soon... Good luck!

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  7. You put me to shame....we had an adults-only leaving do and failed to organise a birthday party for Littleboy1 2 weeks before we left the UK. And I've just had about the lowest-key party ever for Littleboy 2 (see current post..). It sounds like a great way to take your leave though!

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  8. MaM - hmm. We'll see! Not sure I'm not just adding to the chaos...

    Vic, nice idea. Sadly, unlikely (mainly because I haven't made time to ask anyone to do that, so entirely my fault).

    LCM, good plan. Can I substitute a V&T instead?

    EPM, meltdown currently in progress...

    Iota, am reserving judgement on that 'till after the party...

    GPM, it's a bit of a long way, though...

    NVG, I'm hoping it's all going to stay low-key; we shall see...

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  9. I think you're incredibly brave and I hope the party goes off with a bang.

    CJ xx

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