bitful

Last Sunday I turned forty years old.

I had a very hard time trying to understand why everyone around me saw this as a milestone. I agree that it's a round number, but that's about it for me, it still does not feel like the big fat scary four-oh.

Dr B. wanted me to do something big and extravagant to mark my fortieth, like a trip abroad with a few mates. Or a weekend away in a large house in the middle of nowhere with all my friends.

Instead, I felt like giving myself the possibility to see everyone I know, and so I set up a few meeting points throughout the weekend.

On Saturday night about 15 people gathered round me at Barcode in Vauxhall, South London (which is slowly becoming our local pub). They got me cards, presents and perhaps too many gin and tonics.

On Sunday I had friends round to the flat. It was the first time that I did not prepare most of the party food myself, relying instead on Tesco's party range. Could this be a sign that I am getting old? I had no idea Tesco sold such ready-made delicacies (at a price though); you should have heard my not so manly squeals of delight as I piled the shopping cart high with Tikka kebabs and breaded prawns.

I think about 25 people came round, with more cards, and presents, and so much booze! I will never forget the feeling of all that love and attention to myself around me, as the doorbell kept ringing, and far away friends were calling and texting me from Italy, Germany, France, the USA, Iceland…

At 5 we left the flat to go to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern where we got to see the Kandi Kane show (D.E. Experience had cancelled at lunchtime) and had a bit of a dance.

At 10 I got back to the flat with a couple of friends for strong coffee, showers and changing into clean clothes and we went off to DTPM, where a friend of ours had put us on the guest list. More friends joined me there and I felt grateful that I need so little to have a good time. A good tune, some friendly faces and knowing that I have taken Monday off work is all I need sometimes.

The club closed at 5 (or was that 6?) in the morning, and we went to Orange for more fun. Never for a minute did I stop to think that I was in a very crowded large club on a Monday morning, and that outside people were already on their way to work!

We stayed until noon or so, then walked a friend home and hung out at her place for a while. I would not really call it a chill-out party, as I quickly fell asleep on the couch while Dr B. watched a movie with our friend, and two other people were cuddling in our guest's bed.

The highlight of the day was most certainly going home in the afternoon and stuffing my face with leftover party food, forcing myself to stay awake so that I could have a good night's sleep.

And the following day I was back at work as if I'd had a relaxing long weekend in the countryside instead of the mad weekend out I organised to prove that I can still party like the younger generations.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 17th, 2007 at 10:55 am and last modified on February 18th, 2007 at 9:32 am, and is filed under uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.