The cloak of invisibility

Today we took advantage of the fact that LLBB was home to celebrate her 22nd Birthday with her a few days early before she went back to academia in Cambridge.

These celebrations included the traditional cards, presents, cake and a family meal out together, which - apart from the small matter of the meal making LLBB feel sick ahead of her 3 hour train journey - was a great success.

This family harmony was almost ruined by yours truly even before the celebrations had begun. Having gone out to buy a suitable (Barbie? Cow? Chocolate Caterpillar or Party?) cake, I left T to wrap up the large and numerous presents with the small amount of wrapping paper that I had bought the day before.

Now, little did I know that all of the time I had been away T had been looking for one item, one item that was essential in the wrapping process in addition to the paper, and that with time running out had caused more and more (understandable)frustration to her.

As I said, little did I know about this “present wrapping turmoil”! So it was that as I returned with the cake, I was met at the door by T who asked “...have you seen the invisible tape?!!!”

I consider my response to have been a learning experience. It is clear that I should have sought more information prior to responding. Clearly my response - "...If it's invisible, how could I POSSIBLY have seen it?" was possible not - with hindsight- the most appropriate response I could have made, but thankfully harmony was soon restored.