In 1986 my 21st birthday party was non existent. There were a lot of family issues happening at the time, and my parents were going through a trial separation out of sheer practicality as opposed to something being wrong with the marriage.

As my 30th birthday approached, a lot of things were different. I was no longer with Australia Post, I was married and we were living in a nice quiet corner of Mitcham.

As we made plans for the evening, the core of it was going along to Sizzler in Knox (near Knox City) for dinner. It was a simple party of five - me, Lee, my folks and Lee's mother.

Or so I thought!

Behind my back, my darling wife had arranged for a few more people to be there than I knew about. The idea was to make up for the lack of a real party 9 years earlier, and provide a pleasant surprise. And it was - in more ways than one! As I walked towards the entrance, I thought I spied my grandmother (on my mother's side) waiting inside. A double check revealed I was right, and I remarked "looks like there's more than five here".

Then I uttered the immortal words, "Oh wait a minute!!"

I'd spied my best mate Sean in the waiting area! The cheeky bastard (said as a term of endearment) had rung me up just a couple of hours earlier asking what I was doing for my birthday, when he was going to be there all along!!

I sped up my walk, and (a little rudely bypassing my grandmother I'll admit) made a beeline for him to playfully chew him out!! His wife was there as well, and the party was actually 11. And my sister had arranged for a birthday cake for me as well through the restaurant!

For one of the few times in my life - I was at a loss for words.