Being lucky enough to be part of a large family (one of seven) and an even larger extended family (around 70 and growing fast- on my side alone!) and having married into another baby boomer clan (Síle is one of six) and being lucky enough to have a huge circle of close friends we quickly realised that for me to hold a sixtieth birthday for everyone (the count was well over a hundred)was absolutely impossible, and anyway would be no fun.
So the decision was made to have several small ones, dinner parties.
The first was in Berlin which adds a nice cosmopolitan touch, the second was in our house here in Waterford , next one is only for the daughters and their blokes and of course The Grandson and will be in France on Easter Sunday.
There are at least two more decided, one here for Sile’s siblings and another in Cork for mine.
There is I hope still scope for at least two more which will bring the grand total up to seven which is an altogether enchanting prospect for one who regards a dinner party as the one of the high points of civilization (I do, after all, intend to make my living out of them from September)

The only sad thing about all this is that I will have to wait another ten years before I start celebrating my seventieth.