Birthday Trip

High enthusiasm.
Birthday hotel night away.
Sleep seems unlikely :-/

We’ve come away for Ben’s birthday celebration.  It’s 8 days after his birthday, we planned it to coincide with the end of his first week back at school, which sometimes keeps him on track during that first week back, as he’s looking forward to something.  This year it has not worked out that way.  But here we are anyway.  It’s been good so far.  Journey went off without a hitch and we had a swim in the hotel pool, Ben’s bloods went really low but he handled it all.  Then off for a drink in the hotel bar and to Pizza Express for tea where they seated us in a back section usually for parties (it was very messy, clearly one had just finished!) it worked out really well to be away from the hubbub and less on display.  It's quite fun to walk there through the park, in the dark and there's a kind of sculpture wall thing with giant pins on either side that you can push, so they protrude on the other side.  It's quite addictive, it's super frustrating (for those who like to complete a task), as by the time you've pushed a few pins flush with the wall, someone on the other side has pushed some of them back.  It's a bit like herding cats.  So it's an annual event that we have a little go and then decide it's a Stupid Game and give up :-D
Back in the hotel now, Ben is starting to settle, he's had too much Diet Coke and excitement and is likely to sleep poorly but he's had a lovely time, so I guess that's a win :-)