Mike’s 40th birthday party was held in the salubrious surroundings of the Wingate and Finchley Football club.

The venue was preceded by its reputation. Local mini-cab drivers charged Mike’s friends time-and-a-half as standard – before peeling away into the night relieved to be in control of vehicles with wheels, more about wing-mirrors etc still attached.

Miraculously, we all had a great time and the evening ended without one legitimate personal injury case transpiring.