Firstly, as promised, I will tell you all about the great birthday celebrations. They started on the morning of 25 April with an appearance at a radio station, where the "bard jockey" treated his audience (fed up with the election) to a breath of fresh air by inviting our very own dear Albert and two tribal chiefs to his show! Happy birthday, Albert!
Afterwards, our Albert gave a batch of telephone interviews and caught his breath during a brief coffee break, before speeding back to the Editions Albert René HQ to meet the winners of our competition, who stared transfixed at all before them. (By the way, I have started to read reviews of their visit on the forums with relish). Our idea was to offer you a chance (through the winners) to share in something very special: an open house where we could show our winners around and, to mark the exceptional birthday occasion, share a bit of our reality, our daily life at the Editions. The emotional response to this project was very heart-warming: it was an unforgettable day for us and the winners (10 Gauls, 2 Lusitanians, and a little Hellenic plus their fathers who accompanied them). But I digress, let's get back to the day itself. After visiting the "Village", a coach took everyone at Editions Albert René along with our lucky winners, thrilled at spending time with Albert Uderzo…

To see the whole slideshow, click on one of the photos.

Our official arrival at Artcurial, located at the foot of the Champs-Élysées, was worth its weight in peanuts. Journalists from all over Europe were waiting for us, forming an informal guard of honour to greet Albert Uderzo and Dominique Versini, Head of Le Défenseur des Enfants, whose forces have recently been rallied by our favourite little Gaul, as you well know. We were ready to attack the day's highlight: the grand opening. I had the great honour of unveiling the original plates from the 34 authors who had accepted the challenge to draw Asterix in their own style, what barbarians!… As Dominique Versini watched the unveiling, she kept an eye as well on Albert, who was very interested yet highly amused to see his heroes, in all their guises, portrayed by his younger colleagues. Yes, even you Tibet, you dear old thing!
With cameras rolling, we made our way through an army of pens, brandished in the hope of an autograph, and continued the charmingly informal visit. Next up was the welcoming speech from Sylvie Uderzo, our beloved director, followed by a few words from Albert and a very moving speech from Dominique Versini, thrilled by the attention that Asterix has shown to her cause.
Once again, a gentle fluttering of butterfly wings which will, I'm sure, continue to have a positive consequence, tomorrow and thereafter.
Then, in order to punish those who had dared to draw Asterix, the authors were obliged to climb aboard the bus to the Fnac Forum for an epic in-store signing session (attended by Albert Uderzo, of course, as well as by Achdé, Batem, Brösel, Carrère, Cuzor, Derib, Philippe Graton, Kuijpers, Laudec, Tibet, Turf and Walthéry!).
Next, at around aperitif time, we went back to Artcurial, where glasses of Bellinis were on hand with dishes of parmesan, melon and ham to make a few Italian toasts. We were not drinking to the Romans' health; it was another Italian, our very own Alberto Uderzo, who was the man of the moment! The guests arrived and were astounded to sit down at a real Gaulish banquet table! And during the banquet, not that I want to bore or tease you (I know what it's like to be outside the tent when they're stuffing their faces inside), I can confirm that Marc Perrone, the great noble French accordionist, Gaulish moustache and all, came to play for Albert's benefit! With his wife on the viol (which Cacofonix would have loved), they played dance hall numbers from Albert's youth, songs which some in the audience obviously knew by heart… And absolutely nobody finished gagged and bound to a tree! Thanks from the bottom of our heart to Marc!
Emotions ran high as speeches and gift-giving punctuated the dinner celebration. Gifts included a collector's clock, a rooster, a family of German hens (thanks, Marion), canvasses, plates, and a whole host of other presents designed to spoil the great man who, it must be said, was clearly enjoying every moment.
And, before the multi-tiered macaroon cake arrived, the staff from Parc Asterix presented a little show they'd rehearsed, with Roman guards abating the guests with shouted orders while installing the present on an imperial throne… But order and tranquillity were quickly restored when all the characters from the Village showed up to guard the present in centre stage.

Then, coming in from the wings, a ravishing Panacea appeared at the microphone to sing a husky version of "Happy birthday, Mr Uderzo" - a flashback to a legendary actress who sang birthday wishes to a certain President way back when… And the present? It was a commemorative tablet sculpted with the caricature of René and Albert that can be found inside the Asterix and Obelix All at Sea album! They don't do things half-way at the Parc! (Thanks, Alain)! What a memorable moment! The event made the news the very next morning, starting with an article in Le Monde.

(To see the Asterix and La Défense des enfants website, click here.)