On Sunday morning I had a brief panic attack as I contemplated the afternoon ahead with Croc Stars bringing their mobile reptile display to my son’s tenth birthday party. I wasn’t worried about having a snake, crocodile and other reptiles in my home but the thought of a house full of 10-year-old boys hyped up on party food was more than a little terrifying.

As it turned out, I needn’t have worried. Before the boys had enough time to commit any serious mayhem, Derek Ingham from Croc Stars arrived with a python, a blue-tongued lizard, a shingle-backed lizard, a rather charming crocodile and an eastern long-necked turtle named Stinky.

The reptile display was awesome. All the kids got a chance to touch each of the reptiles and Derek’s presentation was fun as well as informative. We had a mixture of boys and girls at the party aged from five to ten and they were all fascinated. The kids had a great time, especially my son who got to be Derek’s assistant since he was the birthday boy.

I think that the reptile display was fantastic and Derek certainly kept the kids attention for the whole hour he was at our home. Meredith isn’t quite so enthusiastic in her praise, since her daughter came home from the party armed with the information that she is now old enough to apply for a reptile licence.

So, not only did I keep the kids entertained (well, Derek did but I organised for him to come to the party, so I get to claim at least part of the credit), I also managed to annoy Meredith (an unexpected side benefit) AND I finished the party off by presenting the most amazing reptile swamp cake to fit in with the reptile party theme. I baked the cake and my eight-year-old daughter and five-year-old son did the decorations.