April come she will

April come she will.......

3rd April 1989 - James Alexander Twohill was born and...21 years later Saturday, 3rd April 2010 it is Easter Saturday and it's his 21st birthday....and the party looms. OMG, what were we thinking!

60, 70, 80 friends....... any more invited?? Time: 6.30 pm for a barbecue - James frets Will anyone turn up on time??. We doubted it - they'd probably arrive at 7.30 pm if we were lucky. But no - the first guests arrived at 6.20 pm!! We cannot believe it - they're actually early. This is unheard of - they must be hungry. Sizzling sausages are soon being appreciated (God, I love alliteration).

7.00pm and Katie is surrounded by 14 males - she twitters "Anyone out there with a vagina??" James hits the iPod "We got a right....... to Parrrrrrrrrtyyyyyyyyy".

7.15 pm - females arrive! Katy states "Oh, thank god, someone else with a vagina!!!! (Who enjoys a monologue?)". Males agree en mass. Things got a little blurry after that.

By now there are about 60 people - are we able to control the mosh pit???? (next to the Rheem Stellar tardis)?? It's a bit of a worry - there's a multitude of people on chairs, on deck, in the family room and behind the lattice. You've got a space - we'll fill it.

Once again Morrisey got it right Kill the DJ! A series of squonks, surges and beats fails to convince the crowd. The Boiler Room it's not! Thankfully someone cranks up the iPod. It's remarkable what you can get out of somebody's else's device!. In this case mine ~ all those hours of loading pirated sounds under James' direction has paid off.

It is Easter, so......loaves and fishes. Tasty food abounds and appreciative mouths concur. The food multiplies and is devoured. Who can resist a cob loaf filled with Penny's special spinach dip?.

Skatey guys in kitchen display their tatts: Vans(?) logo (in full), Tall tales are told of the initial 1966 conquering of Mount Kosciusko. We raved on and on....

Drunken dissertations on vinyl ~ Lou Reed's contributions ~ bemused acceptance by hapless victim ~ who says modern youth have no manners? Thomas Phoebe Bashford loomed. What comestible can I provide you with, kind host? Despite being full to the gills I ominously requested something involving avocado. Sometime later I was presented with two slices of mother's choice abutted with spread and spices. Cayenne anyone? He was drunk you know....still it was a very kind gesture.

John, you look so good in that apron. "Yes" said John "I've cooked many a fine meal wearing this apron". Nodding heads - he had cooked 80 sausages tonight. So, is it time to take it off - definitely! So, the apron was shucked and relegated to the pantry cupboard until the next culinary experience.

Did we survive? - well, yes - amazingly. The Police (No! Sting was not invited!) did turn up. However they realised it was a very respectable household so they forgave us. A running, drunken brawl in the cul-de-sac is not de rigeur but has become part of the legend that has been assigned to James' 21st.

Sunday morning: butts, bottle tops and deflated balloons. A multitude of bottles - what were they drinking?? Tequila, Bourbon, Rum, some strange concoctions including home-brew. And what's this hiding in the aspidistra?........ why it's an empty magnum of Passion Pop!!!!!.

No party without Pop!

PS Debris accounted for, the apron resurrected, aparagus blanched to perfection and adorned with Kim's special sauce (Thomy mayonnaise, lemon juice and Maille dijon adjusted to taste), we feasted on marinated lamb backstraps accompanied by fine wine under the spreading umbrella and revelled in another fine performance on Easter Monday - we deserved it!