I didn’t get drunk. Well, maybe a little right at the end, around 2 to 3 a.m.

And people did come. Not everyone who said they would, but many, most. And they brought presents which, for some reason, I didn’t expect – and some very nice presents too!

And there was more than enough food, thanks to Le Madeleine. They arrived when they said they would and set up in the half an hour they said it would take. I had ordered food for 50. In fact, around 35 came and there was a mountain of food left over – even after we foisted food on everyone that would take it. The food was good and I particularly loved the Lasagne.

People came and went – but I didn’t stop for a moment and neither did F who worked tirelessly to make the whole event go so well. At midnight we cut the cake and opened a bottle of champagne and then people danced. And it was a fantastic, perfect party and so much better than I could have hoped for. The people who didn’t come, who had said they would, weren’t really missed although I did wonder about it afterwards. The people who were there made it a great party.

And, now I am over 60. And I still can’t quite believe I’m still here, alive. But I’m grateful that I am.

And the icing on the cake, so to speak, was when I texted F to thank him for making the whole weekend so good – and he texted back, “I did it cause I love you”, which really made my weekend.