So it's that time of year again when I get a bit depressed and bore everyone to death moaning about how I don't want to be old. But as my charming brother told me in his card, it's only 9 years until I'm 30! The 'celebrations' started early as a few of us went to the Australian the night before. At midnight I was sung 'Happy Birthday' in about three different languages and bought a 'hilarious' cocktail.

In the morning, under the pretence that 'it's my birthday so I don't need to go to lectures' I skyped my parents; who, after a terrible cue, sang a rousing chorus of Bonne Anniversaire and blew party blowers. The hilarity quickly turned sour however, when Dad caught Mum in the eye after getting a bit over zealous. I then went into town with LA for a birthday Américain and one of the best cakes I've had here in the park in the sunshine. After a wander round I went home to wait for 19h, when LA said she would return to pick me up for what I assumed would be a quiet dinner with her and GL (after GL spilled the beans and said 'a ce soir').

However, LA and AL turned up bearing champagne, strawberries, cake and lovely (and hilarious) presents. After putting a dent in the ceiling whilst opening the champagne we headed into town, where a gaggle of my friends were waiting by the entrance to Quick. I did have a moment of panic, but luckily it was just a blague and we ended up going to one of my favourite restaurants; where I had smoked salmon (see above), duck and chocolate fondant. I also received a beautiful card from GL, a tin of potatoes (!) and FU had printed off an artily retouched picture of me from our holiday. We then went to have a drink in Place Jean Jaurès before I was briefly thrown around the Point Zero dancefloor by YO. Returned home via VeloMagg (VeloMec hasn't taken off yet sadly).

My first birthday away from my family, my first in another country and I'm now definitely not a teenager...and it wasn't so bad. Bloody hell, maybe I'm growing up.