Hieronymus Anonymous: 30

So, yeah. You guys just may have heard that I turned 30 last weekend. Just perhaps.

I had the best weekend (including Monday off work). 30 is awesome so far!

I was looking forward to being 30 anyway. I read a quote on Marianne Kirby's blog recently which really resonated. I'd been trying to work out how I felt about this birthday, which everyone was so quick to point out was A Big Deal.

The quote runs:

Several years ago, a woman I knew who was turning 40 told me that she was excited about it because the older we get, the more practice we get at our lives. We get better at living because we have simply done more of it.

And BOOM! That was exactly how I was feeling.

I wasn't sad at the 'loss' of my twenties, I wasn't dreading aging. I was (and still am) excited.

Because, whilst my twenties were fun and all, they also involved a lot of ups and downs. And, of the people I know who are comfortable with who they are, who don't feel the need to apologise for being themselves, who are just happier in their lives... well, they're almost all at least in their 30s. And that's because of all the practising, I reckon. I wouldn't go back ten years if you paid me. I'm too excited about the adventure still to come!

Matt made me a card using my favourite ever xkcd strip – the one
that contains a highly valid philosophy of life, in my opinion.

I was allowed to poke my presents the night before, but gently, as I
wasn’t to tear the delicate wrapping paper he’d made by taping
together foil covers from chocolate eyeballs.

In the morning, I shook Matt awake quite early, and he gave me my
presents. I was thrilled with my funky boots, necklace and Sex
Bob-omb t-shirt. He also gave me some books, including one of my
favourite Miss Marple novels (sadly, my previous copy had fallen apart) and a DVD and, to complete my joy, a DS.
Happy Flora.

So we went out for lunch, came home, I had a nap, then Ewan came round to play computer games. And after a bit, Huw and Kirsty joined us, and we reformed our Guitar Hero band.
*does the devil horns*
We (semi) rock!
And then we went out for dinner.

I was having a joint party with my mum, as she didn't get a 60th party, due to Zeph being in hospital. We went to International Starters - a sort of non-Spanish tapas restaurant. It's really nice to go there with a big bunch of people, as everyone shares round their dishes.
My dad and Zeph and Rowenna.

Zeph spent a good proportion of the meal staring at my brother Dave as if he was slightly unnerved. It's Dave's hair, I think.

In fairness, my aunt Hil, my mum and Dave all spent quite a lot of time staring back at him.

Menfolk! Matt, Chris, Zeph and my Uncle Bob.

You can see the mutual wariness in this shot, I think.

Sharing is fun. My aunt Tricia looks on.

It's the chair - I do not have a humpback.

Huw is a startled goat, Kirsty is a leopard.

We had many (well, a couple of) drinks and much food!

And then we all went back to my house, Barnaby. For cake. You can see the one my mother made me in this photo. Sadly not pictured: The one I made her. Where the unset white chocolate ganache made it look rather like it had... man essence on it.