After yesterday's parties I wanted to share the craziness, randomness, and gorgeousness of being Mr Banana Head. My first party was for 8, four-year-olds in a house near High Wycombe. On leaving Banana Towers, (it's just a giant Banana) I got an update that there was a 31-minute delay on the M25. The suggested alternative route took me via Aberdeen, but I didn't have a choice. Fortunately, I leave some time for traffic and arrive really early so I didn't miss the party! The M25 was actually closed so I'm grateful I wasn't stuck on it for a week.
The birthday girl Evelyn was sooo cute. She was dressed as Cinderella and told me her name was Cinderella but at nighttime it was Evelyn. I love all my parties but in some ways, these are my favourite. A small number of children, all the parents sitting with them, it just feels really intimate. It's also one of the rare occasions I don't need my microphone which creates a random issue. At multiple times during the party, I go to adjust my microphone forgetting it's not there. It must look so bizarre.
It was just an hour, and I was excited as I could go home for lunch which again is rare. Due to still crazy traffic and redirections, I ended up having 10 mins at home. Big thank you to Little Miss Banana Head 1 for the halloumi, avocado and mushroom wrap waiting for me. James' party was next in St Albans, 15 mins away. Crazy traffic again and when I got to the venue I was confused as I couldn't find anyone. I got a call from James' dad asking where I was, and it turned out I hadn't updated my diary after the original hall wasn't available. My heart sunk but was relieved it was only 2 mins away. I do pride myself on being extremely organised but on the very rare occasion, I can have a brain wobble.
I'd done James' brother's party previously, so it was lovely seeing all the family again. I often have repeat parties for siblings and I'm always flattered they want me back, especially after my Kate Bush impression and weird dancing. James was lovely and to be fair, all the birthday children are. Even the ones that attack me as I arrive or drop kick me to the face when I'm not looking. The problems started when his friends started arriving. Lots had their faces painted or had tattoos. Just to clarify, this wasn't streaks of Dulux and spider's webs over faces. Just the normal, child friendly butterflies, unicorns, tigers and the like.
They were mostly more enthusiastic than normal when first coming in. That's a polite way of saying they were wild! Coming up to me and being right in my face, arms waving everywhere and manic looks etched on their faces. OK, fine, I'm slightly embellishing for dramatic effect but this wasn't your usual 5 year old's party. From what I was led to believe, there was lots of sugar involved at the fair. The vast majority of the children sat really nicely for the first hour. Two or three boys however were re-enacting the classic Hulk Hogan v Ultimate Warrior matches from the 90's. Fortunately no leg drops or clotheslines were included. That would have been really messy. More rolling on top of each other and going for the 1,2,3 count pin.
It was at the break things turned really weird. A few girls came over to talk to me after eating. "Mr Banana Head, if you take your belt off, your trousers will fall down, and you'll be naked." "Mr Banana Head, we want to see you naked!" Next was, "Mr Banana Head, when are you going to die?" "People die when they're old and you're old." My reply of, "No I'm not, I'm only 7 1/2" seemed to satisfy them and talk turned to Mango and why I call everyone Grandma. Much more party suitable chat. As I've said before, the most predictable thing about children is their complete and utter unpredictability. No filter, they just say what comes to them which is authenticity but also at times can be a bit terrifying!
As the children danced before we started the party again the WWE wannabees went all hardcore. Four boys each took a limb of another one and started pulling. It genuinely looked as if they were trying to detach his arms and legs from his body. Before I could rescue him, a mum rushed over and ensured the game of certain death finished abruptly and everyone was ok. It took me back to the film, "Return to the House on Haunted Hill" where someone is pulled apart by four ghosts. It is literally the worst death I have ever seen on film. The poor victim was played by my brother's brother-in-law, Gil Kolirin. He has the dubious honour of being a poor man's Sean Bean (no disrespect Gil, love you really). Like Sean Bean, almost every role ends up with him suffering a horrible death. He's been burnt alive, taken away and eaten by a pterodactyl, disintegrated by an alien and of course had his limbs unceremoniously removed from his body.
The party finished, everyone seemed happy, and all left with their limbs still attached. You can't really ask for more. Working with children is so unpredictable and I wouldn't change it for the world. The only sour note to the day was Spurs beating Liverpool 2-1 after we had defended like heroes playing with 9 men. Oh and having a goal wrongly disallowed. Tut tut VAR. We will bounce back stronger, YNWA. Enjoy your Sunday, I'm just off to Theia's 6th birthday, I wonder what awaits me there?
Until next time.