Frodo's 6th Birthday Party

With the car in the garage being repaired (see Summer Holiday) yesterday we had to get a taxi to the venue for Frodo's 6th Birthday Party.

We needed a 5 seater, that could take 3 adults, two children and the the food, balloons and party gift boxes.
I arranged the taxi at about 09:15 on Sunday morning with South Liverpool Cars to pick us up at 13:30 so we could get to the party venue in good time for 14:00. The operator didn't seem too bothered when I confirmed our address and the time back to her. The operator also told me that I should arrange the return journey with the driver.

At 13:35 the taxi hadn't turned up. I called South Liverpool Cars, who took some time to answer. Different operator this time. "Oh you wanted a 'bus' didn't you?", "Errr, there'll be one in 10 minutes".

I called the party venue (the I.M. Marsh Campus of John Moores University) to explain that we could be a little late, and to let the arriving parents and children know this. They told us that due to a double booking they'd had to switch the hall that the party was in at the last minute! Just to the building next door, but enough of a change to add to the confusion. They reckoned that they'd tried to call us about this - but if they hadn't they hadn't left a voicemail or answerphone message.

At 13:50 the taxi still hadn't turned up. I called again. Again a long time to answer. When they did reply I heard them radioing in the background to ask if there was anyone in the area. I was then told that one was on it's way but had gone to a similarly named street in the area - distinct smell of bullshit here.

At 13:55 Novelist Supermum set off to find a Hackney Cab on the high street, just as the South Liverpool Cars taxi arrived.

Bundled 2 children, Grandma, ourselves and all the clobber into the taxi and arrived at 14:05. Asked the driver about arranging the return journey only to be told "The operator shouldn't have told you that, I could be in Manchester or anywhere?". He then offered to give me his private number so I could check if he was in the area when the party finished. I declined and said that I would call his base to arrange the return. Handed him the six quid that they said the journey would cost.
Strongly suspect that he's into doing 'foreigners'. The operators are either aware of this, or don't care.

The hall switch meant that there were a few other late arrivals, so it all turned out OK in the end and the party got underway.

The kids were great, and all got into the swing of the party games with the 2 staff that we'd hired whilst we laid out party food tables, and inflated the baloons with helium (I'd covered up the box containing the canister in case the taxi driver objected to taking it on board).

Once we'd tied 18 or so balloons each to a party gift box we got to watch the party. I had time to shoot quite a bit of video of the activities. Frodo was really enjoying himself, and Samwise did very well, joining in and understanding most of the games.

The games included Grandmas footsteps, Duck and Goose, a tag variation (the 'caught' people have to stop still and pretend to be a toilet, only being released when somebody flushes them), plus the ever-popular parachute games. Cat and mouse - one 'mouse' underneath the parachute, one 'cat' on top and everyone else waves the parachute whilst the cat tries to catch the mouse underneath that is obscured by the waves. Fruit Salad - each child is assigned the name of a fruit. Fruits are called out and if it's your fruit you charge underneath the parachute, and out again. If "Fruit Salad" is called then it's a free for all and everybody goes under the parachute. Finally the washing machine game. Four 'dirty smelly' children sit back to back in the centre of the parachute whilst the others walk around and wrap them up in the parachute. "I'm Smelly" shouted Frodo, volunteering for this one. The parachute is now a washing machine. Everybody else grabs the parachute and runs backwards quickly, pulling the parachute. The four children in the middle are spun around very quickly. Being the birthday boy, Frodo had two goes at this. Samwise also had a go.

The staff said that they were having a good time, and that the children were really good and co-operative. I think that they actually meant this since they let the fun over-run for about 15 minutes, which made up for us being slightly late.

Part way through we stopped for food and drink. For the party we'd bought a Racing Car cake. Everbody sang Happy Birthday and Frodo blew all the candles out. He usually bursts into tears at this point, but seems to be getting over this now.

We finished off by all getting under the parachute and making a 'tent' with Frodo as the tent pole in the middle. A final chorus of "Happy Birthday" and time to go home. Handed out the gift boxes, and slices of cake wrapped in paper napkins.

A few tears from Frodo at the end, because it was all over, but he quickly got over this as he did have a very good time. Everyone else, including the staff, said that they'd thoroughly enjoyed it too. A boy in Frodo's class who has cerebal palsy, and doesn't usually join in much even joined in the parachute games at the end.

We asked the staff at the venue if they had the number of a reliable taxi company for the return journey and they gave us the number of Davy Liver Taxi's. They were excellent. The girl who answered said that the operator wasn't in the room, but suggested possibly sending two taxis. I called again a few minutes later and spoke to the operator who had already sent a single Hackney carriage, which was exactly what we needed.

It turned up about 10 minutes later and we all piled in, with the remains of the stuff we'd bought, plus a few sacks full of presents for Frodo, and a few inflated balloons. We had a fun ride chugging home, with one of the balloons flying out of the taxi window, and the rest filling up the taxi. The taxi driver kindly slowed down, so that we didn't lose the flying balloon. It cost less than a fiver to get back, so I tipped the driver a couple of quid.

Turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable party in the end. Lesson learned - we're not going to use South Liverpool Cars ever again. Top marks to Davy Liver Taxi's who'll be getting our future business.

Frodo will be opening one present a day until Friday, which is the actual date of his Birthday (also the anniversary of the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum). Then he can open the rest. He'll get another Birthday Cake on the day - I've found a Transformers Optimus Prime cake, which I bought this morning, that will go with the theme of his main presents from us.