Today is my brother-in-law's 50th birthday.
He is not having a party.
He doesn't do parties, nor does Helen, and - so far as I am aware - hasn't been to one and certainly hasn't given one since their wedding reception twenty-six years ago. The children's christening parties were a combines effort by Glen's mother, my mother and me. And all the parties when the children were young were organised by me.
Despite this the children have put up banners advertising the fact that he is 50 all over the house, and enough friends have found out for there to be a reasonable number of cards and presents. But lying on the sofa covered in dogs, eating salted peanuts and watching telly isn't my idea of celebrating a birthday. But each to his own.
lizdavies
I wasn't that enthused about 50 myself, although less dead against it than I was at 40. But parties in general - yes please!