In which I display some naivety

In order to have a bit of a birthday party with Hannah myself, I invited her, her sisters and whichever friends they wanted to bring 'round, for cake and fizz, this afternoon.

Getting the fizz was easy enough; I just bought some bottles of Booth's brand cava, which is rather good. The cake, of course, required baking, plus the house needed tidying before everyone got here at three p.m.

I just about made it and although the cake wasn't decorated, the two halves were cooling on the tray by three and the house was tidy and, dare I say, clean.

I stood by the window and waited.

I thought about opening the fizz but decided that was bad form. I did, however, put a bottle out on the table with some glasses. And then I went back to the window.

I waited some more.

At half three I found myself getting a little impatient, so I rang Hannah. No answer. I rang Milly. No answer. I rang Izzy. She warily answered the 'phone. "Where are you?!" "Sorry, it's my fault. I've been asleep since I took Charlie to the station at ten."

Now, unless Izzy's ill, she is incapable of sleeping during the day. This should have been my first clue. Well, it was my first clue, I just didn't notice it. I got off the 'phone before I became excessively grumpy and went to decorate the cake. Here it is.

Dan and Abi arrived, followed a few minutes later by the birthday party: Hannah, Milly, Izzy and Izzy's boyfriend, Michael. Their wary acceptance of the offer of a glass of fizz told me what I should have realised sooner: they were all very hungover.

Then Dan and Abi's mum, Hannelie, arrived, so I finally had a drinking buddy and we made a proper effort with the cava whilst the fragile young people made stilted attempts at conversation.

The cake, however, was received with great enthusiasm and the vast amount of sugar rejuvenated them all to the point where it actually felt like a party. Better late than never!