A Birthday Countdown with my Companions

Amber, myself and TAV. Photo taken
 by Steph, who dislikes pictures of
herself. Which is just silly.

Lower key than ever, at least from my perspective, the Birthday is upon me again on Saturday 19th November, and I'm turning 21, otherwise known by anyone over fifty as the "perfect age", the peak of physical, mental and youthful existence. Lest I have my Nan mocking me with her ancient "Twenty One again!" song, I intend to make the most of the next year, doing lots of youthful things like girls, running around pushing my body to the limit and throwing up on a pavement after boozing and consuming a cheap kebab. Whatever a kebab is.

"To our doctor!"

Earlier today, after having Rebecca Carter over for an insanely brief visit between her lessons to talk about Totton College's continual failure to process student's UCAS university forms correctly, my lovely Mother drove me into Southampton so I could meet my colleagues  from Solent, Michael Taviner, Steph Usher and Amber Stubbings. Now as I've waxed in the past, I really rather like these three people from my course. We work on all our filmmaking projects together, hang out between lessons, driving each other hysterical and collimating in today, I count them amongst my best friends. 

They had insisted I attend for a special pre-Birthday party two days early, and they came baring gifts of hugs and a Card Factory plastic bag before we sat down in a Costa. 

I feel spoilt already. Even the
Doctor Who birthday card
was bespoke. <3

Wrapped up within a bowed package was a round "21" badge, ludicrously oversized, bigger than my favourite plate at home, a box of Malteasers chocolate, demonstrating they do listen to my specific culinary desires, and best of all, a blue COOKIE MONSTER t-shirt, doubtlessly inspired by my love for a Sesame Street themed cupcake made by Cath, the cake-making subject of our documentary last month. OMNOMNOMNOM! That amused Steph no end.

A walk around the Marlands shopping centre followed, including a visit to the Rockbottom Toy Store, in which someone inevitably puts on a hat. This time Amber did her best Captain Jack Sparrow impression with a pirate cap. Surprisingly realistic. In summary, I'm very grateful that I have friends at university that care about me and my quirks enough to spend time and money on me. Wouldn't be without them. Not that I'm getting emotional, y'know.

Millie and Leah inspect the horrors of
 Tumblr.

Meanwhile, as I prepare for Saturday's party, the first in our new house, I've realised it has been four weeks exactly since we moved from Morpeth Avenue. Only four weeks, when I've already established a routine, redesigned a room and had countless friends over for chats and television. Emma Long and I even already danced to music for a video, whilst Millie and Leah, who visited on Tuesday, complimented the comfort of my bed, but sadly not in that way. With the Starfleet flag now hanging from my wall, and just a few posters left to stick up, my new den is essentially complete: a worthy successor to Morpeth Avenue.

I await the weekend... and the chance to spend time with more people that, despite my sarcastic grumpiness, I love like family.

Was that too emotional?