Birthdays and icecream

Alice's birthday today. Ten years on from that Friday the Thirteenth.

Determined not to fail after running out of fuel on the way home for her party last year. Robert printed her a card on their postcard printer, using his favourite Alice picture - the one with a prominent bloody scar caused by falling on a toy combine harvester, but...

Mail ordered present never turned up and could I find the cheap tacky multi-coloured H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y banner we hang from a low beam for every occasion except Christmas?

No.

So, bless her. A couple of cards and phone calls, and at almost turned ten years old - give or take an hour, off she goes to make her packed lunch. Sort the ironing pile. Empty the washing machine. Whistling a happy tune. Whilst I stand in the shower pondering my parental inadequacies.

Plus I've promised to go out playing after she's party tea'd off to bed. Guilt? Ah - no time for that. I think she actually enjoys filling in when I miss the mark sometimes.

Icecream van has just jangled round the corner playing "You are my Sunshine". Luckily just the tune. Bloody sad, desperate lyrics for drumming up sales of 99's I reckon!

You Are My Sunshine

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping,
I dreamed I held you in my arms,
but when I woke dear, I was mistaken,
and I hung my head and cried.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
you make me happy when skies are gray
you'll never know dear, how much I love you,
please don't take my sunshine away.

I'll always love you and make you happy
if you will only say the same
but if you leave me to love another
you'll regret it all some day

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
you make me happy, when skies are gray,
you'll never know dear, how much I love you,
please don't take my sunshine away.

You told me once dear you really loved me
that no one else could come between
but now you've left me and love another
you have shattered all my dreams.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
you make me happy, when skies are gray,
you'll never know dear, how much I love you,
please don't take my sunshine away.

Shattered dreams?! Mistaken love?!!! Regret it all?!
Don't take my, well, -icecream - away?
It's a sick world sometimes... and I love it.