Now I am old? I don't think so! Reflections on turning 40

So the big 4 - 0 hey? I have no idea why certain milestone numbers - yes we are still imperial when it comes to big birthdays it seems! - suddenly have to be spelt out, like you are trying to hide something from someone. Reminds of when my parents would spell something out when I was child so I wouldn't know what they were getting or doing - it may have been true that I couldn't understand that the spelled word was, but I understood the act of spelling all right and the fact that it meant something! Somehow saying the two numbers separately doesn't disguise the fact that I am officially sliding into a gloriously vigorous middle age.....not that I am all that worried really. 40...sorry 4 - 0....is the new 30 I am told, and 50 is the new 35, which places me back at the start of my 30s, which thus far has been my favourite decade. Lots of wisdom about me and how the world operates coupled with youtful zest (no, not lemon zest - too bitter) - lt's see of the 40s can top that! As ever, my cup is half full....full of Vanilla Coke that is!

The birthday was marked by a 12 day visit to Canada on frequent flier miles, where I got to help celebrate (and organise the party of) my wonderful friend, Sandra, who also turned 4 - 0. (See I still know what I mean!) I spent 2 days covering the greater part of Port Coquitlam (in Vancouver) with Ilesa, Sandra's friend and neighbour, for lots of food, red and yellow everything (inspired by the balloons we ordered) and even a birthday tiara (plastic) and a sash saying "Birthday Queen", which also somehow ended up on me at the 40th. Thats right - make fun of the gay man! LOL The party went off a treat....I drank lots of Sangria, Sandra got to see some close friends, and there was cake! Mmmmm....cake....when I wasn't doing the Queer Eye for the Party Guy routine, I was shopping in Kitsilano (funky neighbourhood) and downtown (with Sandra where we stopped in for sushi at good ol' Tsunami Sushi, and lots o' CDs at HMV Megastore), and checking out dead frozne salmon in a stream.....well I was supposed to be checking out live ones rushing to spawn but I was a tad too late....

Flew back into Sydney Town on the day of my birthday, where I was not wished Happy Birthday by the customs officer (so much for my tax dollars at work!) and carrying a very bad cold picked up courtesy of Sandra and her partner Ken's two lovely kids, Katie and Graham. The one thing I didn't have was jetlag but after some shopping and a birthday lunch of Indian with Susie, a very good friend, I had to come home and crash out for 3 hours to sleep off the effects of the cold. Do I know how to party of not?! Got up, felt way better, got an SMS from Warren (this great guy I met via Yahoo Personals, who may yet turn out to be the best birthday present yet) right at 6.18 pm when I was born - very sweet! - talked to various wonderful freinds, and Mum & Dad and headed out for fish and chips from the local in Gymea with John and Susie. Yes another night of wild and frantic partying that may or may not have included drunken sheep and small people with killer abs (long story) but more than likely didn't....

Got home, watched some "Queer As Folks" I'd taped, and then rang Warren at 10.30 pm for what I presumed would be a quick chat prior to our get together on Sunday. We talked for 3 and a half hours with a single stop, awkward silence or anything. Way cool. (Its very hard to make smart remakrs when you're happy isn't it? That could become a problem real soon, methinks). We did try a couple of awkward silences just for effect but they inevitably ended after 5 secnds when one of us lost concentration. Let's face it Waz - we suck at awkward silences! It was a wonderful end to my birthday and was followed by a quick call to my friend Kerry in Briz Vegas, who's a complete night owl.

The next big event on the 4 - 0 calendar was the Big Birthday Dinner That Ate Paris on Saturday night.....OK there were only 7 of us but they were very good friends (Andrew, an old housemate, Ellen & Tracy, John & Susie and Ross, a friend who travelled down from Newcastle, which was wonderful of him) and everything went like clockwork.....had the dinner at a fantastic restaurant called "Sealevel" at Cronulla, and we tucked into gloriously rich food (Szechuan Pork Fillets with mango, and pear dressing and rice rolls for me!) we looked onto the night ocean , lit up by a spectacular storm. Conversation flowed freely, as did the Southern Comforts and Coke (here's to not driving!!), and we followed up dinner, after a frantic dash through the rain (me with a ton of helium balloons including a giant Tigger one!), with Toblerone Cheesecake, silly party hats and presents at Ellen's. If you have to turn 4 - 0, then I figure this is the way to do it - great friends, great food, and cheesecake.....and you can quote me on that....

Right now to my 41 st year....roll on !!!