Matthew's 40th Birthday Party

It is so very difficult for me to start a proper detox during the month of January as I have so many friends with birthdays during the Month.

Saturday night was Matthew's 40th Birthday Party. I have to confess, when I first read the Invitation via Facebook I omitted to check the venue and it was a good job I did as it wasn't at their beautiful flat at all but rather at the Private Room on the top floor of the Edge in Soho.

Alex was texting me during the afternoon, asking what time I would be arriving and I had the usual drama of deciding what to wear out in Soho on a Saturday night? Usually I would nip into the gay village post work and just be dressed in my suit but Saturday nights are different.

I arrived at around 2030 just as things were starting to get busy. Lee greeted us at the door of the room and soon ran into Alex & Mikey and Jay & Tony. Matthew came over to say hello and was looking really well and dare I say didn't look 40 years old. I wonder if I will get away with saying that come my 40th? Unlikely!

Gradually more and more faces from the past arrived. How many years has it been since Joel's leaving party in the same room when he moved to Hong Kong? That was the last time I had been this room at the Edge. Looking around more and more people were arriving some I had known since my early days in London, some more recently from Lee & Matthews other parties and some that you have shared some of the happiest and also sadest days of our lives with. Looking at everyone it was almost as though Matthew's party was a bit like a school reunion. We all look almost the same, perhaps a little older, wiser and for some a little grayer, wiser and also larger.

It was great to see everyone again and catch up with some dear friends after a long period of absence. That's one of the down sides of living in such a large and busy cosmopolitan city. You rarely run into people across the city on a regular basis due to its sheer size. It's only really at these sort of event's that you get to see everyone again. Of course Lee is rather an expert at organizing parties and events and will forever be known in my eyes as host of the most exclusive chill out's in the whole of London. He also organised the Gay Alton Towers Trip back around 10 years ago when we first met. Hopefully we will all see each other again soon but until then, thanks to Matthew & Lee for a lovely evening once more and hopefully see you all again soon. Until then, wishing Matthew a very happy 40th and many happy returns!