Off the hook

It was like a throwback to a bygone age - the kitchen fall of glasses in various states of fullness, the recycling bin overflowing with empty bottles, a birthday cake half eaten. Music was pounding and there was dancing of a sort normally only seen in subterranean clubs. It could have been a time before Esther, even before Nancy. It was a proper party in a microcosm - but it started at 1530 and no one was carried home - and it was a party to celebrate Esther turning two.

And what a party.

The final guests left as the clock struck ten pm and the limits of a second birthday celebration have forever been recalibrated. Indeed, at one point Esther was seen to be distributing champagne to her guests with aplomb.

Thanks to the subtle influence of her sister, Esther was primed for her birthday, happily shouting ‘happy birthday me’ in the run up to the big day and readily grasped the concept of presents in a slightly possessive protocapitalist way. It was, to end this verbose nonsense, a vague triumph.

She received a stunning array of glorious presents so we send all our thanks to those of you responsible for that. Esther’s cup overfloweth and she is a very happy chide.

And due to her unparalleled sweetness and charm she is only just only just learning the word no as too often she inveigles herself into your mind using psychological trickery to make you do whatever she wants. She is like a Jedi master. At present any non compliance with her will end up with floods of tears and her doing a aerial River dance when picked up. She'll learn soon enough. Or maybe she has already won. Egad.

Time to glory in Esther at the start of her third year on this planet.

Cudgels

Floral Dance

Half Cut

Rainman