My birthday surprise

There is a proverb that goes, “a bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.”

This is especially true with regards to a surprise birthday party that my friends in Manchester threw me two years ago.

In all respects it was a really basic party – victoria sponge cake and mini sandwiches from M&S, paper napkins from IKEA, fairy lights from one of the girls’ bedroom and a borrowed tea pot.

It was also a really odd party – it was held a month late, in fact so late that when they shouted “Surprise!” I looked around and asked, “Who’s birthday is it?”

I was also served some leftover tong suey from the Chinese supermarket and sat on a table which had a re-used table cover from ASDA. The venue? Our tiny little (once even described as “manly”) flat in Melrose Apartments.

But it was the best party ever because it involved the people I loved most. And when they are around, nothing else matters. So thank you to @thesingingone, @janicetansh and @xiacharl for the lovely surprise – which also included a rendition of Justin Bieber’s “One Time”.

P/S: These pictures were taken using a disposable camera from Boots.