Birthday drink proved quite a palaver

Ionly wanted to go for a quiet drink to celebrate my birthday. Well, I say that, but with all my current aches and pains, I actually wanted to stay at home semishielding with perhaps a modest glass of bubbly.

However, my birthday happens to coincide with the grand reopening of every pub in the land, so my friends had other ideas!

The first pub we contacted was happy to reserve us a big table under an awning in their spacious garden.

A round-robin email confirmed that my regulation six friends were happy with that, but then the pub sensibly decided to remain closed for another week or so until they were good and ready.

The second pub we fancied would be operating a first come first served system.

Better than nothing was the reply to the second round of emails.

A third round of emails established that food would be available. Times were agreed and taxis ordered.

Then word went round that the place would be mobbed because the other place had deferred their opening.

We didn’t fancy that, according to the fourth (or is it fifth?) set of messages.

So, yet another email went round. We could abandon all thoughts of pubbing and meet on someone’s lawn to have a barbecue. Agreed.

Though I thought I might attempt to pop briefly into the jam-packed second pub as I do have more than six friends and many would be there.

So I emailed the person whose lawn we were using, asking if I could arrive early if I really couldn’t squeeze into the second hostelry.

Whereupon she said she would meet me there as she would undoubtedly fancy a quick break from prepping the barbecue.

Meanwhile I got a message from someone else in my party saying that their pals had secured a table at a third pub and would I like the spare seat?

I messaged the lawn lady and she said she’d like to join us so I emailed this other chum to ask if there could be two spare seats by any chance?

He emailed his chum and yes that was ok. Sorted.

Emailed everyone and they emailed back confirming.

Then we realised that the seat reservation only lasted to 5.30 so we might be stranded for an hour and a half drinking Special Brew at the bus stop.

I emailed the lawn lady. She would be willing to start the BBQ earlier and would email everyone with the change of times.

Hopefully by the time you read this, everyone will have turned up on the lawn, keeping a safe distance of course, and I’ll have had a jolly birthday celebration.

But what a palaver! Remember when we could just say ‘Might see you in the pub on Saturday?’ And sure enough a few would turn up. Or not.

And, just checking, but is it true you have to show your passport before you are allowed in?

And do people whose birthday it is get early boarding priority?

Or is that only airports?