Girl talk

I suspect most children have two birthday parties: one on the day, with their family (which they might not count!), and one with all their friends, their 'proper' party. 

Abi had the one with her friends while I was away at Glastonbury and then we had a birthday breakfast on the day itself (she was playing Nancy in the evening, which rather knackered any plans for a birthday tea).

This also meant that most of her big sisters and the Minx and miniMinx hadn't been involved in any celebrations, a situation which was resolved by the Minx throwing a party for Abi at her house, this evening. Charlie and Hannah came up from Manchester (Izzy was working - and had seen Abi on her birthday, anyway - and Milly is off interrailing), and I drove down with Dan and Abi. 

It was a lovely evening. The Minx had, characteristically, gone to a lot of trouble and her 'yarden' looked enchanted. Dan, Abi and the miniMinx went free running at the local leisure centre while we non-runners tackled a jug of sangria and then I set about cooking on the barbecue.

A little later, while the food was cooking and the older girls were chatting, these two - the miniMinx and Abi - were up sitting together on the garden wall, so I grabbed this shot of them.