On Tuesday night I was in my favourite local pub. Normally a pretty bustling place, that night a sick chef put paid to the dinner crowd and the biting temperature kept the casual drinkers away. A lone balloon floated down from the ceiling and wafted round the pub on the thermals of the log fire all night, looking strangely lost and sad and adding to the rather solemn atmosphere.

“A remnant from an engagement party,” said the barman, seeing my eyes following its journey.

A bit later I found myself humming along to the music – overly exuberant 80’s pop tunes which seemed out of place on a quiet Tuesday. After a while the penny dropped. The barman had set my 40th birthday party playlist going! 

Ghosts of parties past.