Party Time in South London

“Don’t worry, Grace”, said I to our 3-year-old granddaughter as she sat shivering in her pushchair. “We’re all wet and cold, but we’re nearly there. We can get warm in the Horniman museum….Hey?? What’s this notice strapped to the railings?

 “No way, it can’t be closed – it’s the one place we thought wouldn’t be affected by this dreadful Storm Darragh! And we’ve just had to walk uphill in the teeth of a gale for 10 awful minutes because the bus was diverted…”

But on reflection, we realised the staff had probably been unable to travel to work. And that many people were enduring far greater miseries than us. Floods…homes full of mud…power cuts…

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And so Jane, Grace and I trudged back downhill, escorted by Sam (nearly 8) who was dodging puddles despite having previously missed his landing, soaking a foot. We came to Sainsbury’s supermarket half way down, and dived inside for cover. The children stayed with Jane who needed some groceries, whilst I searched for a birthday card for Sam. They arrived at the self-checkout first, then Jane proceeded to unload her basket with the children ‘helping’. I arrived to hear,

“Unauthorised item in bagging area…Unexpected removal of item from bagging area”, as Grace kept rearranging the already-scanned items. “Assistance is coming…” Ooops.

 At this point, I whisked Grace away and paid handsomely for her to enjoy a ride on a simulator. This occupied her until Jane and Sam walked by, shop completed.

Did my memory serve me correctly, that we’d previously been to a pizza restaurant near here? Sam confirmed my hunch, and just over 5 minutes later we were sitting in the Bona Sourdough Pizzeria where we were made very welcome. The children enjoyed watching the chef rolling out pizzas, spreading the toppings, and then placing them in the awesome oven using long-handled wooden peels. We can’t recommend this place highly enough. An hour later we emerged back into the drizzle feeling much comforted, with warmed bodies and full tummies.

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The following day we celebrated Sam’s birthday, at home. Jane and I had the task of preparing a buffet (his choice). Meanwhile, he and his three friends (there’s also a girl who’s missing from the picture) enjoyed a Nintendo Party in which they ‘became’ characters playing sports in two teams of 2. You can just make out a basketball goal in the picture. Jane and I were permitted a short turn at this game, which we did not master. It seemed that subtle flicks of the wrist affected the outcome on the screen in a somewhat random manner (DON’T ask me to explain…).

Meanwhile, the girl’s little sister and Grace were having their own alternative party. There was a colouring activity with mum Rachel, after which dad Martin repeatedly lifted both girls aloft for several seconds at a time before they landed in a giggling heap on the floor. Grace can shriek and squawk for England when something doesn’t suit her. But on the other hand nothing compares with a tiny child’s squeals of

delight when they feel happy.

I used to lift, carry, and rough-and-tumble with, our kids in those far-off days of their childhood. My aches and stiffness mean I can no longer do this, but it’s such a pleasure to see Martin enjoying being a dad.

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Family life is so much about sharing moments of delight and making the best of the reverses. These are years that won’t come again, to be treasured and savoured.