Today is Jay's birthday.

Unfortunately for him it has been a rather low-key affair, starting with a visit to the dermatologist. He scraped the offending verruca until it bled and then administered not one but two injections into the raw looking place. It made me go cold just watching. Jay managed not to flinch – too much.

We then met up with CC in town for a coffee but they both disappeared soon after because Bear was coming to meet me for lunch.

Jay had decided to celebrate his birthday properly next week when CC has finished her course of ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL antibiotics but he was looking forward to opening his presents en famille accompanied by coffee and macaroons when I got back.

But Bear wanted to go shopping after lunch. First we went to a large D.I.Y. Store where he poked around not really knowing what he was after for ages.

He then decided to go elsewhere – namely the supermarket.

My heart sank. Bear loves browsing round Carrefour (or Cora or Auchan or any hypermarket) and so I knew this would not be a quick shop. Sure enough he fiddled about among the electrical and hardware aisles before deciding that what he wanted wasn't there but we'd “look for something for tea.”

He made a beeline for the cake counter and chose eclairs – just a pack of two for himself. He didn't like the last lot of ham I bought so we went to the meat counter for him to make his choice. Next in the trolley was catlitter and boxes of Whiskas on special offer and we eventually made it to the checkout. If I had told him I'd like to get back for Jay he would either have thrown a wobbly or employed delaying tactics (or maybe both) so I followed him patiently until he had finished.

Back home CC made coffee and we got together with the Whale in the study to watch the present unwrapping.while nibbling the macaroons. Bear stayed in the living room watching TV. I'm not sure whether or not he realised it was Jay's birthday but as there's a strong case of mutual indifference between the two of them it was better that way.

I was sad there was no birthday meal. Jay prepared his own salad and took it up to his room to watch his new DVD. CC and I made a vegetable stew which Whale reluctantly shared and Bear had a ham sandwich and his eclairs in front of the telly.

The real celebration is scheduled for next Tuesday.