Quarantined Birthday

Today is Alasdair’s 26th birthday. A year ago we went out for a meal in Glasgow and Cat joined us to give Ally a birthday surprise. This year of course has been very different. An evening at home was de rigueur. Cat baked a delicious chocolate birthday cake with lashings of buttercream icing, and we ordered a curry from our usual Indian restaurant up the road. We actually weren't sure whether it would still be open, due to the virus, but it was doing a booming trade in (currently permitted) takeaway meals. Such a booming trade that Ally and Cat were kept waiting (safely distanced) for more than forty-five minutes. James opened a bottle of champagne and the five of us had a convivial meal. Cat then brought through the birthday cake, candles alight, and after the usual Happy Birthday sing song we all tucked in. It was absolutely yummy. Alasdair then got to work making espresso martinis and we played a lively and fast-moving game of Bohnanza, where bizarrely you trade different types of beans, which was new to me and great fun. Despite the lockdown I think that Ally has a great day.