12 noon kick off, and a 4-2 home defeat in the last game of the season - I play my worst game, missing 3 "easy" chances for a player of my standard. "Sh*t happens!" "Saving the goals until next season!" are some of the comments from my team mates, as I drink my beer in the changing room in the knowledge that I am going to Jesper's 40th birthday party.
My youngest daughter has to be driven to a party in Rungsted starting at kl.17.00, so I put on my newly dry cleaned Aquascutum LTD suit, white shirt and tie - off we go! The navigation system tries its best to get me lost, but I follow my instincts and within 15 minutes, she is greeted enthusiastically by her class mates.
The party starts at kl.18.30 sharp - I get on my bike and off I go, within 300 metres I end up in the leaves. The car stops and the driver comes over to apologise, and in my "new life" I do not do anger, so I calmly explain to her that it was not necessary to be in such a rush and surely she must of seen me :-) 5 minutes later, back on my bike and on the way to the party.
I'm late only 10 minutes, I great Jesper with a hug, take off my coat, put on my suit jacket and introduce myself to the fellow party goers. It is only then that I realise that I do not know anyone, apart from Jesper - this is going to be fun !
As per normal in any gathering of persons, they split up into cliques - there are 20 of us, all couples except Jesper, myself and the 2 women whose partners could not attend. I do the rounds, breaking into the cliques, listening and then with a greeting - get them to relax. Really, they know each other, so they should have learned by now that it should be their responsibility to welcome me, embrace and intergrate me into their network, but alas it always seems to be the other way around.
Dinner is supplied by outside catering company and all 3 courses were superb. Wine, both red and white are flowing and everyone is getting relaxed - Jesper makes his speech thanking us all for being his friend, and at the same time introducing each person and explaining how he knows each person. In my case, Jesper was working at my eldest daughter's nursery when I first came to Denmark. He had recently returned to Copenhagen from Rome where his (then) girlfriend was working for the Danish Embassy, and was re-posted to DK.
2 more speeches, dinner finished and the DJ arrives - now the party started. EVERYONE on the dance floor, smiling drinking and having fun - RESPECT! This is what a party is supposed to be like, everyone having fun - I cannot remember getting home, but I know that I did as my children woke me up at kl.8.30 to the sound of television.
Yesterday was spent, nursing a hangover!
And Chelsea lost at home 1-0 to Liverpool, the first time for almost 4 years - all good things come to an end, but as one door closes, another one opens.
Thanks Jesper for a super party - RESPECT is due to ALL your guests, without a doubt in my opinion, the party of the year!
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