Partay

And now nine is official.

Eitan's worst nightmare comes true: the birthday-party-movie the same time as the Manchester darby pitting Manchester United versus Manchester City. I try to find a home that will take our disconsolate lad but the usual suspects not around. In the end, Eitan manoeuvres "delayed viewing" on the set-top box which enables him to watch the game .. delayed. What young people can do with wirefuls nowadays. As for our birthday gal and par for the course, eight boys and Molly who, I tell her, "is very brave." The kids play "It" and their screeches attract neighbor Martin who notes wistfully over the fence "It used to be like this all the time around here." And: "When I was a boy . . ." Martin recalls being evacuated during the London bombings.